Hepatitis C inhibitor peptide analogs

ABSTRACT

Compounds of formula (I):  
                 
 
wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , Y, n and m are as defined herein. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease.

Benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/589,287, filed on Jul. 20, 20004 is hereby claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds, processes for their synthesis, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In particular, the present invention provides novel peptide analogs, pharmaceutical compositions containing such analogs and methods for using these analogs in the treatment of HCV infection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major etiological agent of post-transfusion and community-acquired non-A non-B hepatitis worldwide. It is estimated that over 200 million people worldwide are infected by the virus. A high percentage of carriers become chronically infected and many progress to chronic liver disease, so-called chronic hepatitis C. This group is in turn at high risk for serious liver disease such as liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and terminal liver disease leading to death.

The mechanism by which HCV establishes viral persistence and causes a high rate of chronic liver disease has not been thoroughly elucidated. It is not known how HCV interacts with and evades the host immune system. In addition, the roles of cellular and humoral immune responses in protection against HCV infection and disease have yet to be established. Immunoglobulins have been reported for prophylaxis of transfusion-associated viral hepatitis, however, the Center for Disease Control does not presently recommend immunoglobulin treatment for this purpose. The lack of an effective protective immune response is hampering the development of a vaccine or adequate post-exposure prophylaxis measures, so in the near-term, hopes are firmly pinned on antiviral interventions.

Various clinical studies have been conducted with the goal of identifying pharmaceutical agents capable of effectively treating HCV infection in patients afflicted with chronic hepatitis C. These studies have involved the use of interferon-alpha, alone and in combination with other antiviral agents. Such studies have shown that a substantial number of the participants do not respond to these therapies, and of those that do respond favorably, a large proportion were found to relapse after termination of treatment.

Interferon in combination with ribavirin has been approved for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, side effects caused by IFN (such as retinopathy, thyroiditis, acute pancreatitis, depression) are not alleviated with this combination therapy. Pegylated forms of interferons such as PEG-Intron® and Pegasys® can apparently partially address these deleterious side effects but antiviral drugs still remain the avenue of choice for oral treatment of HCV.

Therefore, a need exists for the development of effective antiviral agents for treatment of HCV infection that overcome the limitations of existing pharmaceutical therapies.

HCV is an enveloped positive strand RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family. The single strand HCV RNA genome is approximately 9500 nucleotides in length and has a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a single large polyprotein of about 3000 amino acids. In infected cells, this polyprotein is cleaved at multiple sites by cellular and viral proteases to produce the structural and non-structural (NS) proteins. In the case of HCV, the generation of mature nonstructural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B) is effected by two viral proteases. The first (generally referred to as the NS2/3 protease) cleaves at the NS2-NS3 junction; the second (the NS3 protease) is a serine protease contained within the N-terminal region of NS3 and mediates all the subsequent cleavages downstream of NS3, both in cis, at the NS3-NS4A cleavage site, and in trans, for the remaining NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A and NS5A-NS5B sites. The NS4A protein appears to serve multiple functions, acting as a cofactor for the NS3 protease and possibly assisting in the membrane localization of NS3 and other viral replicase components. The complex formation of the NS3 protease with NS4A seems necessary to the processing events, enhancing the proteolytic efficiency at all of the sites. The NS3 protein also exhibits nucleoside triphosphatase and RNA helicase activities. NS5B is a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that is involved in the replication of HCV.

A general strategy for the development of antiviral agents is to inactivate virally encoded enzymes that are essential for the replication of the virus. In a two day clinical trial, it has been shown that the HCV NS3 protease inhibitor BILN 2061 is effective in rapidly reducing viral loads in patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (Gastroenterology (2004) 127(5): 1347-1355), thus providing proof of principle of the clinical antiviral activity of HCV NS3 protease inhibitors.

The NS3 protease has been found to potentially have an additional impact by blocking the IFN-mediated cellular antiviral activity in the infected cell (Foy et al., Science, 17 Apr. 2003). This lends credence to a hypothesis that the NS3/NS4A protease may represent a dual therapeutic target, the inhibition of which may both block viral replication and restore interferon response of HCV infected cells.

Inhibitors of the HCV NS3 protease have been described in WO 00/09543 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 03/064456 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 03/064416 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 02/060926 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), WO 03/053349 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), WO 03/099316 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), WO 03/099274 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), WO 2004/032827 (Bristol-Myers Squibb), and WO 2004/043339 (Bristol-Myers Squibb).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now provides novel compounds that are inhibitory to the NS3 protease. Furthermore, compounds being active in cell culture are provided.

An advantage of one aspect of the present invention resides in the fact that compounds according to this invention specifically inhibit the NS3 protease and do not show significant inhibitory activity against other serine proteases such as human leukocyte elastase (HLE), or cysteine proteases such as human liver cathepsin B (Cat B).

Included in the scope of the invention is a compound of formula (I):

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

m is 1 or 2;

R¹ is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, or (C₂₋₆)alkynyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, and (C₂₋₆)alkynyl are optionally substituted with from one to three halogen substituents;

R² is selected from —NH—R²⁰, —O—R²⁰, —S—R²⁰, —SO—R²⁰, —SO₂—R²⁰, —OCH₂—R²⁰, and —CH₂O—R²⁰, wherein

-   -   R²⁰ is aryl or Het, wherein said aryl and Het are each         optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is one to four substituents each independently selected         from H, halogen, cyano, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl,         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het, oxo, thioxo, —OR²⁰¹, —SR²⁰¹,         —SOR²⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰¹, —N(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹, and —CON(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹; wherein         each of said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and Het is optionally         further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰;     -   R²⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl,         aryl, (C₂₋₄)alkenyl, (C₂₋₄)alkynyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl and         —CO—O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, wherein each of said alkyl and aryl is         optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰;     -   R²⁰² is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl;     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is one to three substituents each independently selected         from halogen, R²⁰⁰³, aryl, Het, —OR²⁰⁰¹, —SR²⁰⁰¹, —SOR²⁰⁰¹,         —SO₂R²⁰⁰¹, cyano and —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹), wherein each of said aryl         and Het are optionally substituted with one, two or three         substituents each independently selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl and         —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl;     -   R²⁰⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from aryl,         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³, —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴)         and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and         (C₁₋₆)alkyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ in each case is independently selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein each         of said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are         optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl         substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ in each case is independently selected from H or R²⁰⁰³;

R³ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH and —CONH₂;

R⁴ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, or Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   a) each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl, Het,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and         Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- optionally being substituted with nitro and         optionally being substituted with one to three substituents each         independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂,         wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents; and     -   b) said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one         or more substituents each independently selected from nitro,         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, —OCF₃,         —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, tri(C₁)alkylsilyl, R⁴¹,         —C(═O)—R⁴, —C(═O)OR⁴¹, —C(═O)N(R⁴²)R⁴¹, —SO₂R⁴¹, and         —OC(═O)—R⁴¹; wherein R⁴¹ in each case is independently selected         from:         -   i) H, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, Het, or             aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—;         -   ii) aryl or aryloxy, each of which being optionally             substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and         -   iii) (C₁₋₆)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more             substituents each independently selected from             —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl,             (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl,             Het, aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of said             aryl and aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl;             and         -   R⁴² is selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; or     -   R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each         independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl- are each optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from halogen,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; or     -   R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to         which they are bonded, to form a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic         saturated or unsaturated heterocycle optionally fused to at         least one other cycle to form a heteropolycycle, said         heterocycle and heteropolycycle each optionally containing from         one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected         from N, S and O, and being optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from halogen,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl;

R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, Het or Het-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-; wherein each of said (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, Het and Het-(C₁₋₃)alkyl- is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NHC(═O)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NHC(═O)O(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C═O)NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C═O)N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CONH₂, —CONH—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CON((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —SO₂(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —SO₂NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl; and

Y is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl;

with the proviso that when

m is 2,

n is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-; each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each of which being optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents;

-   -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R²cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³;         wherein Het as used herein is defined as a 3- to 7-membered         heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently         selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or         aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other         cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having         wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently         selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated,         unsaturated or aromatic;         or a salt thereof.

One aspect of the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium or auxiliary agent.

According to an embodiment of this aspect, the pharmaceutical composition according to this invention additionally comprises a therapeutically effective amount of at least one other antiviral agent.

Another important aspect of the invention involves a method of treating a hepatitis C viral infection in a mammal by administering to the mammal an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount of a compound of formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a composition as described above, alone or in combination with at least one other antiviral agent, administered together or separately.

Also within the scope of this invention is the use of a compound of formula (I) as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the treatment of hepatitis C viral infection in a mammal.

Further encompassed within the scope of this invention is the use of a compound of formula (I) as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of hepatitis C viral infection in a mammal.

A further aspect of the invention provides the use of a compound of formula (I), as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, in combination with at least one other antiviral agent, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of hepatitis C viral infection.

Still another aspect of this invention relates to a method of inhibiting the replication of hepatitis C virus by exposing the virus to a hepatitis C viral NS3 protease inhibiting amount of the compound of formula (I) according to this invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Further included in the scope of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I) according to this invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to inhibit the replication of hepatitis C virus.

An additional aspect of this invention refers to an article of manufacture comprising a composition effective to treat an HCV infection or to inhibit the NS3 protease of HCV; and packaging material comprising a label which indicates that the composition can be used to treat infection by the hepatitis C virus; wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula (I) according to this invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a further aspect of this invention is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) comprising the steps of:

a) reacting a compound of formula (II):

wherein R⁴ and m are as defined herein, with a strong base so as to form the corresponding amide anion and

b) reacting an azalactone of formula (III):

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁵, Y, and n are as defined herein, with the amide anion of step a).

In yet a further aspect of the present invention is provided an azalactone intermediate compound of formula (III):

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁵, Y, and n are as defined herein.

A further aspect of this invention is the use of the intermediate azalactone of formula (III) as described hereinbefore in the preparation of an HCV NS3 protease inhibitor peptide analog.

Still another aspect of this invention is the use of the intermediate azalactone of formula (III) as described hereinbefore in the preparation of a compound of formula (I) as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

As used herein, the following definitions apply unless otherwise noted:

With reference to the instances where (R) or (S) is used to designate the absolute configuration of a substituent or asymmetric center of a compound of formula I, the designation is done in the context of the whole compound and not in the context of the substituent or asymmetric center alone.

The designations “P3, P2, P1 and P1′” as used herein refer to the position of the amino acid residues starting from the N-terminus of the peptide analogs and extending towards and beyond the cleavage site, i.e. the bond in a substrate of the protease enzyme which is normally cleaved by the catalytic action of the protease enzyme. Thus, P3 refers to position 3 from the C-terminal side of the cleavage site, P2, position 2 from the C-terminal side of the cleavage site, etc.. The bond between the P1 and P1′ residues corresponds to the cleavage site. Thus, the P1′ position corresponds to the first position on the N-terminal side of the cleavage site (see Berger A. & Schechter I., Transactions of the Royal Society London series B257, 249-264 (1970)). In the context of the compounds of formula (I) herein described, these positions are as designated in the following formula:

The term “(C_(1-n))alkyl” as used herein, wherein n is an integer, either alone or in combination with another substituent, means acyclic, straight or branched chain alkyl substituents containing from 1 to n carbon atoms. “(C₁₋₆)alkyl” includes, but is not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, 1-methylethyl (iso-propyl), 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl and hexyl. The abbreviation Me denotes a methyl group and Et denotes an ethyl group.

The term “(C_(2-n))alkenyl”, as used herein, wherein n is an integer, either alone or in combination with another radical, is intended to mean an unsaturated, acyclic straight or branched chain radical containing two to n carbon atoms, at least two of which are bonded to each other by a double bond. Examples of such radicals include, but are not limited to, ethenyl (vinyl), 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, and 1-butenyl. Unless specified otherwise, the term “(C_(2-n))alkenyl” is understood to encompass individual stereoisomers where possible, including but not limited to (E) and (Z) isomers, and mixtures thereof. When a (C_(2-n)) alkenyl group is substituted, it is understood to be substituted on any carbon atom thereof which would otherwise bear a hydrogen atom, unless specified otherwise.

The term “(C_(2-n))alkynyl”, as used herein, wherein n is an integer, either alone or in combination with another radical, is intended to mean an unsaturated, acyclic straight or branched chain radical containing two to n carbon atoms, at least two of which are bonded to each other by a triple bond. Examples of such radicals include, but are not limited to, ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, and 1-butynyl. When a (C_(2-n))alkynyl group is substituted, it is understood to be substituted on any carbon atom thereof which would otherwise bear a hydrogen atom, unless specified otherwise.

The term “(C_(3-m))cycloalkyl” as used herein, wherein m is an integer, either alone or in combination with another substituent, means a cycloalkyl substituent containing from 3 to m carbon atoms and includes, but is not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and cycloheptyl.

The term “(C_(3-m))cycloalkyl-(C_(1-n))alkyl-” as used herein, wherein n and m are both integers, means an alkyl radical containing from 1 to n carbon atoms to which a cycloalkyl moiety containing from 3 to m carbon atoms is directly linked; including, but not limited to, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, 1-cyclopentylethyl, 2-cyclopentylethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, 1-cyclohexylethyl and 2-cyclohexylethyl. Unless specified otherwise, a (C_(3-m))cycloalkyl-(C_(1-n))alkyl- group may be substituted on either the cycloalkyl or the alkyl portion thereof, or both.

The term “aryl” as used herein, either alone or in combination with another radical, means a carbocyclic aromatic monocyclic group containing 6 carbon atoms which may be further fused to a second 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic group which may be aromatic, saturated or unsaturated. Aryl includes, but is not limited to, phenyl, indanyl, 1-naphthyl and 2-naphthyl.

As used herein, the term “aryl-(C_(1-n))alkyl-” means an alkyl radical containing from 1 to n carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer, to which an aryl moiety is bonded. Examples of aryl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl- include, but are not limited to, benzyl (phenylmethyl), 1-phenylethyl, 2-phenylethyl and phenylpropyl. Unless specified otherwise, an aryl-(C_(1-n))alkyl- group may be substituted on either the aryl or the alkyl portion thereof, or both.

As used herein, the term “Het” defines a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, unless specified otherwise.

As used herein the term “heteroatom” means O, S or N.

As used herein, the term “heterocycle”, either alone or in combination with another radical, means a monovalent radical derived by removal of a hydrogen from a three- to seven-membered saturated or unsaturated (including aromatic) heterocycle containing from one to four heteroatoms each independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of such heterocycles include, but are not limited to, azetidine, pyrrolidine, tetrahydrofuran, thiazolidine, pyrrole, thiophene, furan, hydantoin, diazepine, 1H-imidazole, isoxazole, thiazole, tetrazole, piperidine, piperazine, homopiperidine, homopiperazine, 1,4-dioxane, 4-morpholine, 4-thiomorpholine, pyridine, pyridine-N-oxide or pyrimidine, or the following heterocycles:

As used herein, the term “heteropolycycle” either alone or in combination with another radical, means a heterocycle as defined above fused to one or more other cycle, be it a heterocycle or any other cycle. Examples of such heteropolycycles include, but are not limited to, indole, benzimidazole, thiazolo[4,5-b]-pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, or coumarin, or the following:

Although generally covered under the term “Het”, the term “heteroaryl” as used herein precisely defines an unsaturated heterocycle for which the double bonds form an aromatic system. Suitable examples of heteroaryl include but are not limited to, radicals derived by removal of a hydrogen atom from the following: pyridine, thiophene, furan,

As used herein, the term “Het-(C_(1-n))alkyl-” means an alkyl radical containing from 1 to n carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer, to which a Het moiety is bonded. Examples of Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- include, but are not limited to, thienylmethyl, furylmethyl, piperidinylethyl, 2-pyridinylmethyl, 3-pyridinylmethyl, 4-pyridinylmethyl, quinolinylpropyl, and the like. Unless specified otherwise, a Het-(C_(1-n))alkyl- group may be substituted on either the Het or the alkyl portion thereof, or both.

As used herein, the term “heteroaryl-(C_(1-n))alkyl-” means an alkyl radical containing from 1 to n carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer, to which a heteroaryl moiety is bonded. Examples of heteroaryl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl- include, but are not limited to, 2-thienylmethyl, 3-thienylmethyl, 2-pyridinylmethyl, 3-pyridinylmethyl and 4-pyridinylmethyl.

The term “O—(C_(1-n))alkyl” or “(C_(1-n))alkoxy” as used interchangeably herein, either alone or in combination with another radical, means an oxygen atom further bonded to an alkyl radical as defined above containing from 1 to n carbon atoms, and includes methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, butoxy and 1,1-dimethylethoxy. The latter radical is known commonly as tert-butoxy. When an O—(C_(1-n))alkyl radical is substituted, it is understood to be substituted on the (C_(1-n))alkyl portion thereof.

As used herein, the term “—S—(C_(1-n))alkyl” or “(C_(1-n))alkylthio”, used interchangeably, refers to a sulfur atom further bonded to an alkyl radical as defined above containing from 1 to n carbon atoms. Examples of (C₁₋₆)alkylthio include, but are not limited to, methylthio (CH₃S—), ethylthio (CH₃CH₂S—), propylthio (CH₃CH₂CH₂S—), 1-methylethylthio ((CH₃)₂CHS—), 1,1-dimethylethylthio ((CH₃)₃CS—), etc.. When an —S—(C_(1-n))alkyl radical is substituted, it is understood to be substituted on the (C_(1-n))alkyl portion thereof. Likewise, when an —SO—(C_(1-n))alkyl or an —SO₂—(C_(1-n))alkyl group is substituted, it is understood to be substituted on the (C_(1-n))alkyl portion thereof.

The term “halo” or “halogen” as used interchangeably herein means a halogen substituent selected from fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo.

The term “oxo” as used herein means an oxygen atom attached as a substituent by a double bond (═O).

The term “thioxo” as used herein means an sulfur atom attached as a substituent by a double bond (═S).

The term “salt thereof” means any acid and/or base addition salt of a compound according to the invention; preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” means a salt of a compound of formula (I) which is, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, generally water or oil-soluble or dispersible, and effective for their intended use. The term includes pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salts and pharmaceutically-acceptable base addition salts. Lists of suitable salts are found in, e.g., S. M. Birge et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1977, 66, pp. 1-19.

The term “pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt” means those salts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free bases and which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable, formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like, and organic acids such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, aspartic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, butyric acid, camphoric acid, camphorsulfonic acid, cinnamic acid, citric acid, digluconic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, glutamic acid, glycolic acid, glycerophosphoric acid, hemisulfic acid, hexanoic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, 2-hydroxyethane-sulfonic acid (isethionic acid), lactic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, mandelic acid, mesitylenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, nicotinic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, pamoic acid, pectinic acid, phenylacetic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, pivalic acid, propionic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, sulfanilic acid, tartaric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, undecanoic acid, and the like.

The term “pharmaceutically-acceptable base addition salt” means those salts which retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the free acids and which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable, formed with inorganic bases such as ammonia or hydroxide, carbonate, or bicarbonate of ammonium or a metal cation such as sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, aluminum, and the like. Particularly preferred are the ammonium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium salts. Salts derived from pharmaceutically-acceptable organic nontoxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, quaternary amine compounds, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines and basic ion-exchange resins, such as methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, isopropylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, 2-diethylaminoethanol, dicyclohexylamine, lysine, arginine, histidine, caffeine, hydrabamine, choline, betaine, ethylenediamine, glucosamine, methylglucamine, theobromine, purines, piperazine, piperidine, N-ethylpiperidine, tetramethylammonium compounds, tetraethylammonium compounds, pyridine, N,N-dimethylaniline, N-methylpiperidine, N-methylmorpholine, dicyclohexylamine, dibenzylamine, N,N-dibenzylphenethylamine, 1-ephenamine, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, polyamine resins, and the like. Particularly preferred organic nontoxic bases are isopropylamine, diethylamine, ethanolamine, trimethylamine, dicyclohexylamine, choline, and caffeine.

The term “mammal” as it is used herein is meant to encompass humans, as well as non-human mammals which are susceptible to infection by hepatitis C virus including domestic animals, such as cows, pigs, horses, dogs and cats, and non-domestic animals.

The term “antiviral agent” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal. This includes agents that interfere with either host or viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal. Such agents can be selected from: another anti-HCV agent, HIV inhibitor, HAV inhibitor and HBV inhibitor. Antiviral agents include, for example, ribavirin, amantadine, VX-497 (merimepodib, Vertex Pharmaceuticals), Levovirin, Viramidine, XTL-001 and XTL-002 (XTL Biopharmaceuticals).

The term “other anti-HCV agent” as used herein means those agents that are effective for diminishing or preventing the progression of hepatitis C related symptoms of disease. Such agents can be selected from: immunomodulatory agents, inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease, inhibitors of HCV polymerase or inhibitors of another target in the HCV life cycle.

The term “immunomodulatory agent” as used herein means those agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to enhance or potentiate the immune system response in a mammal. Immunomodulatory agents include, for example, class I interferons (such as α-, β-, δ-, ω-interferons, τ-interferons, consensus interferons and asialo-interferons), class II interferons (such as γ-interferons), pegylated interferons and conjugated interferons, including but not limited to interferons conjugated with other proteins including but not limited to human albumin.

The term “inhibitor of HCV NS3 protease” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the function of HCV NS3 protease in a mammal. Inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease include, for example, those compounds described in WO 99/07733, WO 99/07734, WO 00/09558, WO 00/09543, WO 00/59929, WO 03/064416, WO 03/064455, WO 03/064456, WO 2004/037855, WO 2004/039833, WO 2004/101602, WO 2004/101605, WO 2004/103996, WO 2005/028501 and co-pending patent application Ser. Nos. 11/039,698, 11/142,792, 11/142,794, 60/583,543, and 60/589,435; herein incorporated by reference in their entirety (all by Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 02/060926, WO 03/053349, WO 03/099274, WO 03/099316, WO 2004/032827, WO 2004/043339, WO 2004/094452, WO 2005/046712 (all by BMS), WO 2004/072243, WO 2004/093798, WO 2004/113365, WO 2005/010029 (all by Enanta), WO 2005/037214 (Intermune) and WO 2005/051980 (Schering), and the Vertex candidate identified as VX-950.

The term “inhibitor of HCV polymerase” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the function of an HCV polymerase in a mammal. This includes, but is not limited to, non-nucleoside and nucleoside inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase.

Examples of inhibitors of HCV polymerase include but are not limited to those compounds described in: WO 02/04425 (Boehringer Ingelheim) WO 03/007945 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 03/010140 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 03/010141 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 2004/064925 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 2004/065367 (Boehringer Ingelheim), WO 2005/012288 (Genelabs), WO 2004/087714 (IRBM), WO 03/101993 (Neogenesis), WO 03/026587 (BMS), WO 03/000254 (Japan Tobacco), and WO 01/47883 (Japan Tobacco), and the clinical candidates JTK-003 (Japan Tobacco), HCV 796 (ViroPharma/Wyeth), R-1626 (Roche) and NM 283 (Idenix/Novartis).

The term “inhibitor of another target in the HCV life cycle” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of HCV in a mammal other than by inhibiting the function of the HCV NS3 protease. This includes agents that interfere with either host or HCV viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of HCV in a mammal. Inhibitors of another target in the HCV life cycle include, for example, agents that inhibit a target selected from a helicase, a NS2/3 protease and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and agents that interfere with the function of other viral targets including but not limited to an NS5A protein.

The term “HIV inhibitor” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of HIV in a mammal. This includes agents that interfere with either host or viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of HIV in a mammal. HIV inhibitors include, for example, nucleoside inhibitors, non-nucleoside inhibitors, protease inhibitors, fusion inhibitors and integrase inhibitors.

The term “HAV inhibitor” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of HAV in a mammal. This includes agents that interfere with either host or viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of HAV in a mammal. HAV inhibitors include Hepatitis A vaccines, for example, Havrix® (GlaxoSmithKline), VAQTA® (Merck) and Avaxim® (Aventis Pasteur).

The term “HBV inhibitor” as used herein means an agent (compound or biological) that is effective to inhibit the formation and/or replication of HBV in a mammal. This includes agents that interfere with either host or viral mechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of HBV in a mammal. HBV inhibitors include, for example, agents that inhibit HBV viral DNA polymerase or HBV vaccines. Specific examples of HBV inhibitors include Lamivudine (Epivir-HBV®), Adefovir Dipivoxil, Entecavir, FTC (Coviracil®), DAPD (DXG), L-FMAU (Clevudine®), AM365 (Amrad), Ldt (Telbivudine), monoval-LdC (Valtorcitabine), ACH-126,443 (L-Fd4C) (Achillion), MCC478 (Eli Lilly), Racivir (RCV), Fluoro-L and D nucleosides, Robustaflavone, ICN 2001-3 (ICN), Bam 205 (Novelos), XTL-001 (XTL), Imino-Sugars (Nonyl-DNJ) (Synergy), HepBzyme; and immunomodulator products such as: interferon alpha 2b, HE2000 (Hollis-Eden), Theradigm (Epimmune), EHT899 (Enzo Biochem), Thymosin alpha-1 (Zadaxino), HBV DNA vaccine (PowderJect), HBV DNA vaccine (Jefferon Center), HBV antigen (OraGen), BayHep B® (Bayer), Nabi-HB® (Nabi) and Anti-hepatitis B (Cangene); and HBV vaccine products such as the following: Engerix B, Recombivax HB, GenHevac B, Hepacare, Bio-Hep B, TwinRix, Comvax, Hexavac.

The term “class I interferon” as used herein means an interferon selected from a group of interferons that all bind to receptor type I. This includes both naturally and synthetically produced class I interferons. Examples of class I interferons include α-, β-, δ-, ω-interferons, τ-interferons, consensus interferons, asialo-interferons and pegylated forms thereof.

The term “class II interferon” as used herein means an interferon selected from a group of interferons that all bind to receptor type II. Examples of class II interferons include γ-interferons.

Specific preferred examples of some of these agents are listed below:

-   -   antiviral agents: ribavirin and amantadine;     -   immunomodulatory agents: class I interferons, class II         interferons, pegylated interferons and conjugated interferons;     -   HCV polymerase inhibitors: nucleoside analogs and         non-nucleosides;     -   inhibitor of another target in the HCV life cycle: agents that         inhibit a target selected from a helicase, a NS2/3 protease and         an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and agents that interfere         with the function of other viral targets including but not         limited to an NS5A protein;     -   HIV inhibitors: nucleoside inhibitors, non-nucleoside         inhibitors, protease inhibitors, fusion inhibitors and integrase         inhibitors; or     -   HBV inhibitors: agents that inhibit viral DNA polymerase or is         an HBV vaccine.

As discussed above, combination therapy is contemplated wherein a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is co-administered with at least one additional agent selected from: an antiviral agent, an immunomodulatory agent, another inhibitor of HCV NS3 protease, an inhibitor of HCV polymerase, an inhibitor of another target in the HCV life cycle, an HIV inhibitor, an HAV inhibitor and an HBV inhibitor. Examples of such agents are provided in the Definitions section above. These additional agents may be combined with the compounds of this invention to create a single pharmaceutical dosage form. Alternatively these additional agents may be separately administered to the patient as part of a multiple dosage form, for example, using a kit. Such additional agents may be administered to the patient prior to, concurrently with, or following the administration of wherein a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

As used herein, the term “treatment” means the administration of a compound or composition according to the present invention to alleviate or eliminate symptoms of the hepatitis C disease and/or to reduce viral load in a patient. The term “treatment” also encompasses the administration of a compound or composition according to the present invention post-exposure of the individual to the virus but before the appearance of symptoms of the disease, and/or prior to the detection of the virus in the blood, to prevent the appearance of symptoms of the disease and/or to prevent the virus from reaching detectable levels in the blood.

As used herein, the designation whereby a bond to a substituent R is drawn as emanating from the center of a ring, such as, for example,

means that the substituent R may be attached to any free position on the ring that would otherwise be substituted with a hydrogen atom, unless specified otherwise.

The following sign

is used in sub-formulas to indicate the bond which is connected to the rest of the molecule as defined.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following preferred embodiments, groups and substituents of the compounds of formula (I) according to this invention are described in detail. Groups, substituents and indices are defined as hereinbefore unless stated otherwise.

n:

Preferably n is 1.

Any and each individual definition of n as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, Y and m as set out herein.

R¹:

Preferably R¹ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, and (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents.

More preferably, R¹ is (C₂₋₆)alkenyl or (C₂₋₆)alkyl.

Even more preferably, R¹ is ethyl or ethenyl.

R¹ is most preferably ethenyl.

In the moiety P1, the substituent R¹ and the carbonyl take a syn orientation. Therefore, in the case R¹ is ethyl and n is 1, the asymmetric carbon atoms in the cyclopropyl group take the R,R configuration according to the subformula:

In the case R¹ is ethenyl and n is 1, the asymmetric carbon atoms in the cyclopropyl group take the R,S configuration according to the subformula:

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment,, the compounds of the present invention have the formula (Ia):

Any and each individual definition of R¹ as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, Y, n, and m as set out herein.

m:

Preferably, m is 2. Alternatively preferably, m is 1.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, preferred compounds of formula (I) are those wherein m is 2, n is 1, and R¹ is ethyl or ethenyl.

Any and each individual definition of m as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, Y and n as set out herein.

R²:

Preferably, R² is selected from —O—R²⁰ or —S—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is as defined herein, and

with the proviso that when

m of formula (I) is 2,

n of formula (I) is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³.

More preferably, R² is —O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is as defined herein; and

with the proviso that when

m of formula (I) is 2,

n of formula (I) is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³.

Even more preferably, R² is —O—R²⁰, and R²⁰ is Het, said Het being optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein; and

with the proviso that when

m of formula (I) is 2,

n of formula (I) is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³.

Yet more preferably, when R² is —O—R²⁰, and R²⁰ is Het, Het comprises a heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen heteroatom, and is unsubstituted or substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein; and

with the proviso that when

m of formula (I) is 2,

n of formula (I) is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³ —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³         CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³.

Still more preferably, when R² is —O—R²⁰, and R²⁰ is Het, Het is unsubstituted or substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein, and Het is a group selected from:

with the proviso that when

m of formula (I) is 2,

n of formula (I) is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³.

Even more preferably, R² is —O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is Het, wherein Het is a group selected from:

-   -   wherein     -   R^(200d) is H or —OR²⁰ , wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl optionally         further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰⁰ is one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, Het, —O—(C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl,         —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;     -   R^(200e) is H or —OR²⁰ , wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and     -   R^(200f) is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, halogen, —SR²⁰ , —SOR²⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰¹         or —OR²⁰¹; wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

Most preferably, R² is —O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is Het, wherein Het is a group selected from:

wherein

R^(200d) is H or —OR²⁰, wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl;

R^(200e) is H or —OR²⁰¹, wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and

R^(200f) is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, halogen, —OR²⁰¹, —SR²⁰¹ or —SOR²⁰¹ wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

Therefore, preferably, R² is selected from:

Any and each individual definition of R² as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R³, R⁴, R⁵, Y, n, and m as set out herein.

R³:

R³ is preferably (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₄)alkyl substituents.

More preferably, R³ is selected from ethyl, propyl, butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl and cyclohexylmethyl; said ethyl, propyl and butyl optionally being substituted with one or two methyl substituents and said cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl and cyclohexylmethyl optionally being substituted with one or two substituents each independently selected from methyl, ethyl and propyl.

Even more preferably R³ is selected from 1-methylethyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, (1-methylcyclopentyl)methyl and (1-methylcyclohexyl)methyl.

R³ is yet more preferably selected from 1,1-dimethylethyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and 1-methylcyclohexyl.

R³ is most preferably 1,1-dimethylethyl.

Any and each individual definition of R³ as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R², R⁴, R⁵, Y, n, and m as set out herein.

R⁴:

Preferably, R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, phenyl, naphthyl, Het, phenylmethyl, naphthylmethyl and Het-methyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from fluoro and methyl;         and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy, phenoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NHCH₃,         —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂;         wherein Het is selected from thienyl, furyl, thiazolyl,         benzothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl,         pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl,         3H-indolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydrofuryl,         tetrahydrothienyl, thiadiazolyl, isoxazolyl, benzothienyl,         piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, triazolyl, and         tetrazolyl.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, R⁴ is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one, two or         three fluoro substituents; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NHCH₃,         —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂; and     -   d) each of which being optionally substituted with (C₁₋₈)alkyl,         wherein the (C₁₋₈)alkyl is optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from         —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl,         (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl,         aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of the aryl and         aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

More preferably, the group R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, 1-methylethyl, propyl, ethenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and phenyl wherein said cyclopropyl is optionally substituted at the 1-position with methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, each of said methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl being optionally further substituted with phenyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl or (C₁₋₄)alkoxy.

Most preferably, R⁴ is cyclopropyl or 1-methylcyclopropyl.

In another alternative preferred embodiment, R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl; wherein the methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl; or

R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to which they are bonded, to form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, optionally containing from one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected from N, S and O, and optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl.

In yet another alternative preferred embodiment, R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl; wherein said methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl; or

R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to which they are bonded, to form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, optionally containing from one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected from N, S and O, and optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl.

Most preferably, R⁴ is —N(CH₃)₂.

Therefore preferably, R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1 -methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, phenyl, naphthyl, Het, phenylmethyl, naphthylmethyl and Het-7methyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one, two or         three substituents each independently selected from fluoro and         methyl; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy, phenoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, CF₃, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂,         —CO—NHCH₃, —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂;         wherein Het is selected from thienyl, furyl, thiazolyl,         benzothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl,         pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl,         3H-indolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,         tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydrofuryl, thiadiazolyl, isoxazolyl,         benzothienyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, triazolyl         and tetrazolyl;

or R⁴ is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one, two or         three fluoro substituents; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NHCH₃,         —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂; and     -   d) each of which being optionally substituted with (C₁₋₈)alkyl,         wherein the (C₁₋₈)alkyl is optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from         —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl,         (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl,         aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of the aryl and         aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl;         or R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each         independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl,         1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy,         cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and         phenylmethyl; wherein the methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl,         methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl,         cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl are         each optionally substituted with one or more substituents each         independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy,         cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and         —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl; or

R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to which they are bonded, to form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered monocyclic saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, optionally containing from one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected from N, S and O, and optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl.

More preferably, R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, 1-methylethyl, propyl, ethenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl and —N(CH₃)₂; wherein the cyclopropyl is optionally substituted at the 1-position with methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, each of the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl being optionally further substituted with phenyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl or (C₁₋₄)alkoxy.

Most preferably, R⁴ is cyclopropyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl or —N(CH₃)₂.

Any and each individual definition of R⁴ as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R², R³, R⁵, Y, n, and m as set out herein.

R⁵:

Preferably, R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, phenyl Het, wherein the Het is a 5- or 6-membered monocyclic aromatic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms each independently selected from N, O and S and wherein each of the (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, phenyl and Het is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NHC(═O)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NHC(═O)O(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C═O)NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C═O)N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CONH₂, —CONH—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CON((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —SO₂(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —SO₂NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl.

More preferably R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, or phenyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl and —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl.

Even more preferably, R⁵ is (C₂₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl or phenyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one or two methyl substituents.

Yet more preferably, R⁵ is selected from ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl; each of which being optionally substituted with one or two methyl substituents.

Still more preferably R⁵ is selected from 1,1-dimethylethyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl and phenyl.

Most preferably R⁵ is selected from 1,1-dimethylethyl, cyclopentyl and phenyl.

Any and each individual definition of R⁵ as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, Y, n, and m as set out herein.

Y:

Preferably, Y is H or methyl. More preferably, Y is H.

Any and each individual definition of Y as set out herein may be combined with any and each individual definition of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, n, and m as set out herein.

Therefore, one embodiment of the invention provides a compound of formula (I):

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

m is 1 or2;

R¹ is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, or (C₂₋₆)alkynyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, and (C₂₋₆)alkynyl are optionally substituted with from one to three halogen substituents;

R² is selected from —NH—R²⁰, —O—R²⁰, —S—R²⁰, —SO—R²⁰, —SOR²⁰ OCHR²⁰ and —CH₂O—R² , wherein

-   -   R²⁰ is aryl or Het, wherein said aryl and Het are each         optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is one to four substituents each independently selected         from H, halogen, cyano, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl,         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het, oxo, thioxo, —OR²⁰¹, —SR²⁰¹,         —SOR²⁰¹, —SO₂R², N(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹, and —CON(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹; wherein each         of said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and Het is optionally further         substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰;     -   R²⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl,         aryl, (C₂₋₄)alkenyl, (C₂₋₄)alkynyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl and         —CO—O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, wherein each of said alkyl and aryl is         optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰;     -   R²⁰² is H or (C₁₋₈)alkyl;     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is one to three substituents each independently selected         from halogen, R²⁰⁰³, aryl, Het, —OR²⁰⁰¹, —SR²⁰⁰¹, —SOR²⁰⁰¹,         —SO₂R²⁰⁰¹, cyano and —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹), wherein said each of aryl         and Het are optionally substituted with one, two or three         substituents each independently selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl and         —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl;     -   R²⁰⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from aryl,         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³, —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴)         and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and         (C₁₋₆)alkyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ in each case is independently selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein each         of said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are         optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl         substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ in each case is independently selected from H or R²⁰⁰³;

R³ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH and —CONH₂;

R⁴ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, or Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   a) each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl, Het,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and         Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- optionally being substituted with nitro and         optionally being substituted with one to three substituents each         independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂,         wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents; and     -   b) said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one         or more substituents each independently selected from nitro,         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, —OCF₃,         —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, tri(C₁₋₆)alkylsilyl,         R⁴¹, —C(═O)—R⁴¹, —C(═O)OR⁴¹, —C(═O)N(R⁴²)R⁴¹, —SO₂R⁴¹, and         —OC(═O)—R⁴¹; wherein R⁴¹ in each case is independently selected         from:         -   i) H, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, Het, or             aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—;         -   ii) aryl or aryloxy, each of which being optionally             substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and         -   iii) (C₁₋₈)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more             substituents each independently selected from             —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl,             (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl,             Het, aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of said             aryl and aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl;             and         -   R⁴² is selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; or     -   R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each         independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-;         wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl- are         each optionally substituted with one or more substituents each         independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy,         cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and         —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; or     -   R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to         which they are bonded, to form a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic         saturated or unsaturated heterocycle optionally fused to at         least one other cycle to form a heteropolycycle, said         heterocycle and heteropolycycle each optionally containing from         one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected         from N, S and O, and being optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from halogen,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl;

R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein

-   -   a) each said cycloalkyl and cycloalkyl-alkyl- is optionally         substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   b) each said alkyl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkyl-alkyl- is         optionally substituted with one or two substituents each         independently selected from hydroxy and O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl; and     -   c) each said alkyl group is optionally substituted with one to         three halogen substituents; and     -   d) in each said cycloalkyl group being 5-, 6- or 7-membered, one         or two —CH₂-groups not being directly linked to each other are         optionally replaced by —O— such that the O-atom is linked to the         N atom to which R⁵ is attached via at least two C-atoms;     -   or

R⁵ is phenyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, heteroaryl or heteroaryl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein the heteroaryl groups are 5- or 6-membered having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms each independently selected from N, O and S; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl groups are each optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CONH₂, —CONH—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —COOH, —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl, and —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl; and

Y is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl;

with the proviso that when

m is 2,

n is 1, and

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³;

wherein Het as used herein is defined as a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;

or a salt thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment, preferred are compounds of formula (I) wherein:

n is 1;

m is 2;

R¹ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, or (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents;

R² is selected from —O—R²⁰ or —S—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is as defined herein,

R³ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₄)alkyl substituents;

R⁴ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, ary aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, or Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   a) each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl, Het,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and         Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- optionally being substituted with nitro and         optionally being substituted with one to three substituents each         independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂,         wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents; and     -   b) said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one         or more substituents each independently selected from nitro,         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₄)alkenyl, —OCF₃,         —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, tri(C₁₋₆)alkylsilyl,         R⁴¹, —C(═O)—R⁴¹, —C(═O)OR⁴¹, —C(═O)N(R⁴²)R⁴¹, —SO₂R⁴¹, and         —OC(═O)—R⁴¹; wherein R⁴¹ in each case is independently selected         from:         -   i) H, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, Het, or             aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—;         -   ii) aryl or aryloxy, each of which being optionally             substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and         -   iii) (C₁₋₈)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more             substituents each independently selected from             —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl,             (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl,             Het, aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of said             aryl and aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl;             and         -   R⁴² is selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; or     -   R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each         independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl,         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and         aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl- are each optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from halogen,         (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; or         -   R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to             which they are bonded, to form a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic             saturated or unsaturated heterocycle optionally fused to at             least one other cycle to form a heteropolycycle, said             heterocycle and heteropolycycle each optionally containing             from one to three additional heteroatoms each independently             selected from N, S and O, and being optionally substituted             with one or more substituents each independently selected             from halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl,             —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂,             —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and             —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl;

R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, or phenyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl and —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl; and

Y is H;

with the proviso that when

R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-;

-   -   each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each         of which being optionally substituted with one to three         substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy,         cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl,         —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂;         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally         substituted with one to three halogen substituents;     -   or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being         optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted         with one or more substituents each independently selected from         halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂,         —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is         optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³;

wherein Het as used herein is defined as a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;

or a salt thereof.

More preferred are compounds of formula I wherein:

n is 1;

m is 2;

R¹ is ethyl or ethenyl;

R² is —O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is Het, said Het comprising a heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen heteroatom and being optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein;

R³ is selected from 1-methylethyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, (1-methylcyclopentyl)methyl and (1-methylcyclohexyl)methyl;

R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, phenyl, naphthyl, Het, phenylmethyl, naphthylmethyl and Het-methyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one, two or         three substituents each independently selected from fluoro and         methyl; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy, phenoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, CF₃, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂,         —CO—NHCH₃, —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂;     -   wherein Het is selected from thienyl, furyl, thiazolyl,         benzothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridinyl,         pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl,         3H-indolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,         tetrahydrothienyl, tetrahydrofuryl, thiadiazolyl, isoxazolyl,         benzothienyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, triazolyl         and tetrazolyl;

or R⁴ is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one, two or         three fluoro substituents; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NHCH₃,         —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂; and     -   d) each of which being optionally substituted with (C₁₋₈)alkyl,         wherein the (C₁₋₈)alkyl is optionally substituted with one or         more substituents each independently selected from         —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl,         (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl,         aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of the aryl and         aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁)alkyl;

or R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl; wherein the methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, 1-methylethoxy, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl and phenylmethyl are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl; or

-   -   R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to         which they are bonded, to form a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-membered         monocyclic saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, optionally         containing from one to three additional heteroatoms each         independently selected from N, S and O, and optionally         substituted with one, two or three substituents each         independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy,         cyano, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂,         —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and         —COO(C₁₋₄)alkyl;

R⁵ is (C₂₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl or phenyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one or two methyl substituents; and

Y is H;

with the proviso that when

R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenylmethyl, naphthylmethyl and pyridinylmethyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one, two or         three substituents each independently selected from fluoro and         methyl; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or two         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy, and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being substituted with a substituent         selected from chloro, bromo, CF₃, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂,         —CO—NHCH₃, —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂; or

R⁴ is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl;

-   -   a) each of which optionally being substituted with one or more         fluoro substituents; and     -   b) each of which optionally being substituted with one or more         substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,         trifluoromethyl, methoxy and trifluoromethoxy; and     -   c) each of which optionally being monosubstituted with a         substituent selected from chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, —CO—NH₂,         —CO—NHCH₃, —CO—N(CH₃)₂, —NH₂, —NH(CH₃) and —N(CH₃)₂; and     -   d) each of which being optionally substituted with (C₁₋₄)alkyl,         wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is optionally substituted with halogen;

then R² cannot be

-   -   wherein     -   R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein     -   R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³,         —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴;     -   R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl;     -   R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and         (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with         one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and     -   R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³;

wherein Het as used herein is defined as a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated, unsaturated or aromatic;

or a salt thereof.

Most preferred are compounds of formula I wherein:

n is 1;

m is 2;

R¹ is ethenyl;

R² is —O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is Het, wherein Het is a group selected from:

-   -   wherein     -   R^(200d) is H or —OR²⁰, wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl;     -   R^(200e) is H or —OR²⁰ , wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and     -   R^(200f) is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, halogen, —OR²⁰¹, —SR²⁰¹ or —SOR²⁰¹,         wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl;

R³ is 1,1-dimethylethyl;

R⁴ is cyclopropyl, 1-methylcyclopropyl or —N(CH₃)₂;

R⁵ is selected from 1,1-dimethylethyl, cyclopentyl and phenyl; and

Y is H;

or a salt thereof.

Examples of preferred compounds according to this invention are each single compound contained in Table 1.

As discussed above, included within the scope of this invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount of a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium or auxiliary agent.

According to a further aspect of this embodiment the pharmaceutical composition according to this invention further comprises a therapeutically effective amount of at least one other antiviral agent.

According to an alternate embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition of this invention may additionally comprise at least one other anti-HCV agent. Examples of anti-HCV agents include, but are not limited to, α- (alpha), β- (beta), δ- (delta), γ- (gamma), ω- (omega) and tau-interferon, pegylated α-interferon, ribavirin and amantadine.

According to another alternate embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition of this invention may additionally comprise at least one other inhibitor of HCV NS3 protease.

According to another alternate embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition of this invention may additionally comprise at least one inhibitor of HCV polymerase.

According to yet another alternate embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition of this invention may additionally comprise at least one inhibitor of other targets in the HCV life cycle, including but not limited to, an agent that inhibits a target selected from a helicase, an NS2/3 protease and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and an agent that interferes with the function of an NS5A protein.

The pharmaceutical composition of this invention may be administered orally, parenterally or via an implanted reservoir. Oral administration or administration by injection is preferred. The pharmaceutical composition of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In some cases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of the formulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, and intralesional injection or infusion techniques.

The pharmaceutical composition may be in the form of a sterile injectable preparation, for example, as a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension.

This suspension may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents (such as, for example Tween 80) and suspending agents.

The pharmaceutical composition of this invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, and aqueous suspensions and solutions. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers which are commonly used include lactose and corn starch. Lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added. For oral administration in a capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried corn starch. When aqueous suspensions are administered orally, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening and/or flavoring and/or coloring agents may be added.

Other suitable vehicles or carriers for the above noted formulations and compositions can be found in standard pharmaceutical texts, e.g. in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences”, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19^(th) Ed. Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., (1995).

Dosage levels of between about 0.001 and about 100 mg/kg body weight per day, preferably between about 0.01 and about 50 mg/kg body weight per day of the protease inhibitor compound described herein are useful in a monotherapy for the treatment of HCV mediated disease. Typically, the pharmaceutical composition of this invention will be administered from about 1 to about 5 times per day or alternatively, as a continuous infusion. Such administration can be used as a chronic or acute therapy. The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. A typical preparation will contain from about 5% to about 95% active compound (wiw). Preferably, such preparations contain from about 20% to about 80% active compound.

As the skilled artisan will appreciate, lower or higher doses than those recited above may be required. Specific dosage and treatment regimens for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health status, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity and course of the infection, the patient's disposition to the infection and the judgment of the treating physician. Generally, treatment is initiated with small dosages substantially less than the optimum dose of the peptide. Thereafter, the dosage is increased by small increments until the optimum effect under the circumstances is reached. In general, the compound is most desirably administered at a concentration level that will generally afford antivirally effective results without causing any harmful or deleterious side effects.

When the composition of this invention comprises a combination of a compound of formula I, including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more additional therapeutic or prophylactic agent, both the compound and the additional agent should be present at dosage levels of between about 10 to 100%, and more preferably between about 10 and 80% of the dosage normally administered in a monotherapy regimen.

When these compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are formulated together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the resulting composition may be administered in vivo to mammals, such as man, to inhibit HCV NS3 protease or to treat HCV virus infection. Such treatment may also be achieved using a compound of this invention in combination with another antiviral agent. Preferred other antiviral agents are described within the Definitions section and the section of preferred pharmaceutical compositions according to this invention and include, but are not limited to: α-, β-, δ-, ω-, γ- and tau-interferon, ribavirin, amantadine; other inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease; inhibitors of HCV polymerase; inhibitors of other targets in the HCV life cycle, which include but are not limited to, agents that inhibit a target selected from a helicase, an NS2/3 protease and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and agents that interfere with the function of an NS5A protein; or combinations thereof. The additional agents may be combined with compounds of this invention to create a single dosage form. Alternatively these additional agents may be separately administered to a mammal as part of a multiple dosage form.

Accordingly, another embodiment of this invention provides a method of inhibiting HCV NS3 protease activity in a mammal by administering a compound of the formula (I), including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, this method is useful in decreasing the NS3 protease activity of the hepatitis C virus infecting a mammal.

As discussed above, combination therapy is contemplated wherein a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is co-administered with at least one additional antiviral agent. Preferred antiviral agents are described hereinbefore and examples of such agents are provided in the Definitions section. These additional agents may be combined with the compounds of this invention to create a single pharmaceutical dosage form. Alternatively these additional agents may be separately administered to the patient as part of a multiple dosage form, for example, using a kit. Such additional agents may be administered to the patient prior to, concurrently with, or following the administration of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, set forth herein may also be used as a laboratory reagent. Furthermore a compound of this invention, including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may also be used to treat viral contamination of materials and therefore reduce the risk of viral infection of laboratory or medical personnel or patients who come in contact with such materials (e.g. blood, tissue, surgical instruments and garments, laboratory instruments and garments, and blood collection apparatuses and materials).

A compound of formula (I), including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, set forth herein may also be used as a research reagent. A compound of formula (I), including a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, may also be used as positive control to validate surrogate cell-based assays or in vitro or in vivo viral replication assays.

In a further aspect of this invention is provided a process for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) comprising the steps of:

a) reacting a compound of formula (II):

wherein R⁴ and m are as defined herein, with a strong base so as to form the corresponding amide anion of formula (IIa)

and

b) reacting an azalactone of formula (III):

wherein Y, R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and n are as defined herein, with the amide anion of formula IIa. The strong base referred to in step a) is well known to one skilled in the art and includes, but is not limited to, an alkyllithium reagent (including, but not limited to, butyllithium, tert-butyllithium and the like) and the alkali metal salt of a secondary amine or silyl analog thereof (including, but not limited to, lithium hexamethyldisilazide, sodium hexamethyldisilazide, potassium hexamethyldisilazide, lithium diisopropylamide, lithium N-isopropylcyclohexylamide, lithium tetramethylpiperidide, potassium diisopropylamide, and the like).

In yet a further aspect of this invention is provided an intermediate azalactone of formula (III):

wherein Y, R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and n are as defined herein.

A further aspect of this invention is the use of the intermediate azalactone of formula III as described hereinbefore in the preparation of an HCV NS3 protease inhibitor peptide analog.

Still another aspect of this invention is the use of the intermediate azalactone of formula (III) as described hereinbefore in the preparation of a compound of formula (I) as described herein.

Methodology

The compounds of the present invention are synthesized according to a general process wherein the P3 succinic acid, P2, P1, and P1′ fragments can be linked by well known peptide coupling techniques. The P3 succinic acid, P2, P1, and P1′ fragments may be linked together in any order as long as the final compound corresponds to compounds of formula (I), wherein Y, R¹, R², R³, R⁵, m, n and R⁴ are as defined herein. This process is illustrated in Scheme I (wherein CPG is a carboxyl protecting group and APG is an amino protecting group).

The P2 fragment is generally formed by attaching the R² moiety to the proline fragment using methodology as described in the examples below. This attachment may take place at any stage in this synthetic scheme, i.e., when P2 is an isolated fragment or when it has already been coupled to P1 or P1-P1′. In cases where the R² moiety is to be added at an intermediate stage after coupling to the P1 and/or P1-P1′ fragments, the P2 fragment shown above is replaced with a suitable precursor fragment for the purposes of this scheme.

Generally, peptides are elongated by deprotecting the α-amino group of the N-terminal residue and coupling the unprotected carboxyl group of the next suitably N-protected amino acid through a peptide linkage using well known methods. This deprotection and coupling procedure is repeated until the desired sequence is obtained. This coupling can be performed with the constituent amino acid fragments in stepwise fashion or by solid phase peptide synthesis according to the method originally described in Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., (1963), 85, 2149-2154.

Coupling between two amino acids, an amino acid and a peptide, or two peptide fragments can be carried out using standard coupling procedures such as the azide method, mixed carbonic-carboxylic acid anhydride (isobutyl chloroformate) method, carbodiimide (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, diisopropylcarbodiimide, or water-soluble carbodiimide) method, active ester (p-nitrophenyl ester, N-hydroxysuccinic imido ester) method, Woodward reagent K-method, carbonyldiimidazole method, phosphorus reagents or oxidation-reduction methods. Some of these methods (especially the carbodiimide method) can be enhanced by adding 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. These coupling reactions can be performed in either solution (liquid phase) or solid phase.

More explicitly, the coupling step involves the dehydrative coupling of a free carboxyl of one reactant with the free amino group of the other reactant in the presence of a coupling agent to form a linking amide bond. Descriptions of such coupling agents are found in general textbooks on peptide chemistry, for example, M. Bodanszky, “Peptide Chemistry”, 2nd rev ed., Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany, (1993). Examples of suitable coupling agents are N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole in the presence of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or N-ethyl-N′-[(3-dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide. A practical and useful coupling agent is the commercially available (benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate, either by itself or in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. Another practical and useful coupling agent is commercially available 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate. Still another practical and useful coupling agent is commercially available O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate.

The coupling reaction is conducted in an inert solvent, e.g. dichloromethane, acetonitrile or dimethylformamide. An excess of a tertiary amine, e.g. diisopropylethylamine, N-methylmorpholine or N-methylpyrrolidine, is added to maintain the reaction mixture at a pH of about 8. The reaction temperature usually ranges between 0° C. and 50° C. and the reaction time usually ranges between 15 min and 24 h.

When a solid phase synthetic approach is employed, the C-terminal carboxylic acid is attached to an insoluble carrier (usually polystyrene). These insoluble carriers contain a group that will react with the carboxylic group to form a bond that is stable to the elongation conditions but readily cleaved later. Examples of which are: chloro- or bromomethyl resin, hydroxymethyl resin, trityl resin and 2-methoxy-4-alkoxy-benzylalcohol resin.

Many of these resins are commercially available with the desired C-terminal amino acid already incorporated. Alternatively, the amino acid can be incorporated on the solid support by known methods (Wang, S.-S., J. Am. Chem. Soc., (1973), 95, 1328; Atherton, E.; Shepard, R. C. “Solid-phase peptide synthesis; a practical approach” IRL Press: Oxford, (1989); 131-148). In addition to the foregoing, other methods of peptide synthesis are described in Stewart and Young, “Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis”, 2nd ed., Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill. (1984); Gross, Meienhofer, Udenfriend, Eds., “The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology”, Vol.1, 2, 3, 5, and 9, Academic Press, New-York, (1980-1987); Bodansky et al., “The Practice of Peptide Synthesis” Springer-Verlag, New-York (1984) in the literature.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is illustrated in further detail by the following non-limiting examples.

Temperatures are given in degrees Celsius. Solution percentages express a weight to volume relationship, and solution ratios express a volume to volume relationship, unless stated otherwise. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on a Bruker 400 MHz spectrometer; the chemical shifts (6) are reported in parts per million. Flash chromatography was carried out on silica gel (SiO₂) according to Still's flash chromatography technique (W. C. Still et al., J. Org. Chem., (1978), 43, 2923). Analytical HPLC was carried out under standard conditions using a Combiscreen ODS-AQ C18 reverse phase column, YMC, 50×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μM, 120 Å at 220 nM, elution with a linear gradient as described in the following table (Solvent A is 0.06% TFA in H₂O; solvent B is 0.06% TFA in CH₃CN): Time (min) Flow (mL/min) Solvent A (%) Solvent B (%) 0 3.0 95 5 0.5 3.0 95 5 6.0 3.0 50 50 10.5 3.5 0 100

Abbreviations used in the examples include

AcOH: acetic acid;

Bn: benzyl;

Boc: tert-butyloxycarbonyl {Me₃C—O—C(O)};

brosyl: p-bromobenzenesulfonyl;

CDI: N,N′-Carbonyldiimidazole;

DBU: 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene;

DCC: 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide;

DCM: dichloromethane;

DIPEA: diisopropylethylamine;

DMAP: 4-dimethylaminopyridine;

DME: 1,2-dimethoxyethane;

DMF: dimethylformamide;

DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide;

EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;

Et: ethyl;

EtOH: ethanol;

EtOAc: ethyl acetate;

Et₂O: diethyl ether;

HATU: [O-7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate];

HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography;

IBCF: iso-butyl chloroformate;

LAH: lithium aluminum hydride;

LHMDS: lithium hexamethyidisilazide;

Me: methyl;

MeOH: methanol;

MS: mass spectrometry;

NaHMDS: sodium hexamethyldisilazide;

NMO: N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide;

NMP: N-methylpyrrolidone (1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone);

Pr: propyl;

t_(R): retention time;

TBAF: tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride;

TBDMSCl: tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride;

TBTU: 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate;

TEA: triethylamine;

TFA: trifluoroacetic acid;

THF: tetrahydrofuran;

TPAP: tetra-n-propylammonium perruthenate;

Tris/HCl: tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride;

Ts: tosyl (p-methylbenzenesulfonyl)

RT: room temperature.

Synthesis of P1 Fragments

The preparation, separation and identification of the stereoisomers of the P1 fragments of compounds of Formula (I) were prepared using the protocols outlined in WO 00/59929, published Oct. 12, 2000, and WO 00/09543, published on Feb. 24, 2000. In particular, reference is made to pages 33-35, Example 1 of WO00/59929 and pages 56-69, Example 9- 20 of WO00/09543 for the preparation of 1-aminocyclopropylcarboxylic acid P1 moieties.

Synthesis of P2 Fragments

Generally, P2 moieties of compounds of Formula (I) can be prepared using the protocols outlined in WO 00/59929, WO 00/09543, WO 03/064456 and WO 03/064416.

R² moieties of compounds of formula 1 are either commercially available, have been described previously in the literature or are synthesized according to methods provided in the examples below. General methods for the synthesis of some of these fragments are described in WO 00/59929, WO 00/09543, WO 03/064456 and WO 03/064416 and more specific and pertinent examples are provided below.

General methods for the introduction of the R² substituent on the proline to produce the required 4-substituted proline where R²⁰ is attached to the proline ring via an oxygen (—O—) or a sulfur (—S—), can be carried out as described in WO 00/59929, WO 00/09543, WO 03/064456 and WO 03/064416. Other analogs can also be synthesized using this methodology.

Preparation of P2 Aniline Moieties

The corresponding anilines in P2 fragments are commercially available or may require some well known chemical transformation. For example it can be that the nitro is commercially available and is then converted to the corresponding amine by using a reducing agent. Also when the carboxylic acid is commercially available, it can be transformed into the corresponding amine via a Curtius rearrangement.

Example 1A Synthesis of P2 Building Block 2-methyl-3-methoxy aniline (1A2)

To a solution of 2-methyl-3-nitro anisole which is commercially available (1a1) (5.1 g; 30.33 mmol; requires ˜30 min. to dissolve) in absolute ethanol (85 mL) was added 10% Pd/C catalyst (500 mg). The solution was hydrogenated under a hydrogen filled balloon at atmospheric pressure and room temperature for 19 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a Celite pad, rinsed and evaporated to dryness to obtain the compound 1a2 as a deep mauve oil (4.1 g; 29.81 mmol; 98% yield). MS 137 (MH)+. Reverse Phase HPLC Homogeneity@220nm (0.06% TFA;CH₃CN;H₂O): 99%.

Example 1B Synthesis of P2 Moiety 2-bromo-3-methoxy aniline (1B4)

Step A: 2-Amino-3-nitrophenol 1b1 (5 g; 32.4 mmol) was dissolved in H₂O (29.5 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (14.7 mL). The mixture was heated to reflux and hydrobromic acid (48%; 16.7 mL; 147 mmol) was added dropwise over a period of 20 min. Upon completion of the addition, the reflux was maintained an additional 15 min. The reaction was cooled to 0° C. (ice bath), and sodium nitrite (2.23 g; 32.3 mmol) in H₂O (20 mL) was added over a period of 30 min. The stirring was continued for 15 min. at 0° C., the mixture transferred to a jacketed dropping funnel (0° C.) and added dropwise to a stirred mixture of Cu(I)Br (5.34 g; 37.2 mmol) in H₂O (29.5 mL) and HBr (48%; 16.7 mL; 147 mmol) at 0° C. The reaction was stirred for 15 min. at 0° C., warmed to 60° C., stirred for an additional 15 min., cooled to room temperature, and left to stir overnight. The reaction mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel and extracted with ether (3×150 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with brine (1×), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated to afford the crude product (7.99 g) as a red-brown oil. The crude material was purified by flash column chromatography (1:25 ultra pure silica gel, 230-400 mesh, 40-60mm, 60 angstroms; CH₂Cl₂as the solvent) to afford pure 2-bromo-3-nitrophenol 1b2 (45%; 3.16 g) as an orange-brown solid. MS 217.8 (MH)⁻. Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm: 97%.

Step B: The nitrophenol starting material 1b2 (3.1 g; 14.2 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (20 mL) and to the solution was added ground cesium carbonate (5.58 g; 17.1 mmol) followed by Mel (2.6 mL; 42.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The DMF was evaporated, the residue taken up in ether (1×200 mL), washed with water (1×200 mL), brine (4×100 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and evaporated to afford the crude 2-bromo-3-nitroanisole 1b3 (94%; 3.1 g) as an orange solid.MS 234 (M+2H)⁺; Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm: 98%

Step C: 2-Bromo-3-nitroanisole 1b3 (1.00 g; 4.31 mmol) was dissolved in glacial acetic acid (11.0 mL)/ethanol (11.0 mL) and to the solution was added iron powder (0.98 g; 17.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at reflux for 3.5 hr and worked up. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (35 mL), neutralized with solid Na₂CO₃ and the product extracted with CH₂Cl₂(3×50 mL). The extracts were dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude product, 2-bromo-3 methoxyaniline 1b4 (91%; 0.79 g) as a pale yellow oil. MS 201.8 (MH)⁺; Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm: 95%

Example 1C Synthesis of P2 Moiety 2-chloro-3-methoxy aniline (1c3):

Step A: 2-Amino-3-nitrophenol 1b1 (5 g; 32.4 mmol) was dissolved in concentrated HCl (75 mL) and 1,4-dioxane (14.7 mL). The mixture was heated to 70° C. until most of the solids were in solution. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. (ice bath), and sodium nitrite (2.23 g; 32.3 mmol) in H₂O (5.4 mL) was added over a period of 3 hours to the brown solution. The temperature was maintained below 10° C. during the addition and the stirring was continued for an additional 15 min. at 0° C. This diazonium intermediate was poured into a solution of Cu(I)Cl (3.8 g; 38.9 mmol) in H₂O (18.5 mL) and conc. HCl (18.5 mL) at 0° C. The reaction was stirred for 15 min. at 0° C., warmed to 60° C., and stirred for an additional 15 min. The reaction mixture was then brought to room temperature, and left to stir overnight. The reaction mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel and extracted with ether (3×150 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with brine (1×), dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated to afford the crude product (5.83 g) as a red-brown oil. The crude material was purified by flash column chromatography (1:25 ultra pure silica gel, 230-400 mesh, 40-60mm, 60 angstroms; 3:1 hexane/EtOAcas the solvent) to afford pure 2-chloro-3-nitrophenol 1c1 (48%; 2.7 g) as an orange solid. MS 171.8 (MH)⁺: Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm: 96%.

Relevant literature for the Sandmeyer Reaction: J. Med. Chem, 1982, 25(4), 446-451.

Step B: The nitrophenol starting material 1c1 (1.3 g; 7.49 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (10 mL) and to this solution was added ground cesium carbonate (2.92 g; 8.96 mmol), followed by MeI (1.4 mL; 22.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The DMF was evaporated in vacuo and the residue taken up in ether (150 mL), washed with water (150 mL), brine (4×100 mL), and then dried over (MgSO₄). The organic phase was filtered and evaporated to afford the crude 2-chloro-3-nitroanisole 1c2 (98%; 1.38 g) as an orange solid.

Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@ 220 nm: 93%.

Step C: 2-Chloro-3-nitroanisole 1c2 (1.38 g; 7.36 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of glacial acetic acid (19 mL)/ethanol (19 mL). To this solution was added iron powder (1.64 g; 29.4 mmol). The mixture was stirred at reflux for 3.5 hr and worked up. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (70 mL), neutralized with solid Na₂CO₃ and the product extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×150 mL). The extracts were combined and washed with sat. brine and then dried over (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford the crude product, 2-chloro-3-methoxyaniline 1c3 (100%; 1.2 g) as a yellow oil. This material was used as such in the following steps. MS 157.9 (MH)⁺; Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm: 86%.

Preparation of P2 Quinoline Moieties

Example 1D General Protocol for the Preparation 2-Alkoxy Substituted 4-hydroxyquinolines (1D)

The following P2 hydroxyquinoline moieties bearing an alkoxy group (OR²⁰¹) at the 2-position, wherein R^(200a) and R^(200b) are each independently selected from R²⁰⁰ wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein can be prepared according to the following scheme:

Briefly, following the known Pinner synthesis, a suitably functionalized cyanoester is condensed with the corresponding alcohol using a fully saturated HCl/Et₂O solution [Neilson, in Patai, “The Chemistry of Amidines and Imidates.” pp. 385-489, Wiley, NY, 1975.]. The resulting imidate salt is then subsequently condensed with an appropriately substituted aniline to form the aniline derived imidate. Thermal cyclization affords the corresponding 2-alkoxy substituted 4-hydroxyquinolines 1d.

For example, when R²⁰¹ is Et in the above scheme, ethyl cyanoacetate and ethanol are used as reagents. When R²⁰¹ is Me in the above scheme, methyl cyanoacetate and methanol are used as reagents.

Example 1E General Protocol for the Preparation of 2-alkyl Substituted 4-hydroxyquinolines (1E)

The following P2 hydroxyquinoline moieties where R^(200c) of the β-ketoester moiety is an alkyl group and wherein R^(200a) and R^(200b) are each independently selected from R²⁰⁰ wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein can be prepared according to the following scheme:

Briefly, appropriately substituted β-ketoesters are condensed with substituted anilines and subsequently thermally cyclized to afford the corresponding 2-alkyl substituted hydroxyquinolines 1e. For example, when the initial condensation reaction with the aniline (step A) is performed with the corresponding methyl ketone, a methyl group is incorporated in the 2-position of the resulting hydroxyquinoline.

Example 1F General Protocol for the Preparation of 2-alkylthio Substituted 4-hydroxyquinolines (1F)

In general, various P2 hydroxyquinolines having a 2-alkylthio group (SR²⁰¹ wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl at the 2-position wherein R^(200a) and R^(200b) are each independently selected from R²⁰⁰ wherein R²⁰⁰ is as defined herein were prepared as shown in the following scheme:

Briefly, condensation of diethyl malonate under basic conditions with a suitably functionalized isothiocyanate produces the malonate adduct as a salt. Treatment of the salt with an alkylating reagent (e.g. EtI) produces a mixture of S- and N-alkylated products. Thermal cyclization of this mixture gives the 3-ethyl carboxylate which is saponified and decarboxylated to produce the desired 2-alkylthio substituted hydroxyquinolines 1f. For example, utilization of Etl in the alkylation step results in the formation of the 2-ethylthio analog.

Example 1G Synthesis of P2 Moiety 2-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-8-chloroquinoline (1G5)

Step A: To ethyl cyanoacetate 1g1 (23 g, 0.203 mol) was added absolute ethanol (10 g, 12.7 mL, 0.22 mol) in diethyl ether (20 mL). The solution was cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath before being treated with HCl gas (bubbled through solution for 12 minutes resulted in an increase in weight of 12 g (0.33 mol)). This solution was stirred at 0° C. for 6 h and then allowed to warm to RT and was stirred for 16 h. The resultant solid was broken up and washed several times with ether and then placed in vacuo for several hours. The imidate salt 1g2 was obtained as a white solid (36.4 g, 92%) and was stored under a nitrogen atmosphere. The ¹H NMR was consistent with the desired product.

Step B: The imidate salt 1g2 (1.47 g, 7.5 mmol, 1 eq.) was combined with 2-chloroaniline 1g3 (0.96 g, 7.50 mmol, 1 eq.) in ethanol (15 mL) under an N₂ atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT (16 h) and monitored by HPLC. The reaction mixture was concentrated and then purified directly over silica gel (eluent: 10% EtOAc/Hexanes) to afford the condensation product 1g4 as a clear oil (1.73 g, 86%). MS electrospray: (MH)⁺; 270 and (M−H)⁻; 268. TLC (UV) Rf=0.50 (10% EtOAc/hexane).

Step C: The condensation product 1g4 (1.73 g, 6.41 mmol) was dissolved in diphenyl ether (10 mL) and placed in a sand bath (300° C.). The internal temperature was monitored and allowed to stay between 240-250° C. for 8 minutes. The mixture was cooled and then directly loaded on a silica gel column and eluted first with hexanes, then with 30% EtOAc/Hexanes and finally 50% EtOAc/hexanes. The product was concentrated and dried in vacuo to give the corresponding 4-hydroxyquinoline derivative 1g5 as a beige crystalline solid (0.76 g, 53%). MS electrospray: (M +H)⁺; 224 and (M−H)⁻; 222.

Example 1H Synthesis of P2 Moiety 4-hydroxy-8-Chloroquinoline 1H3

Step A: To 2-chloroaniline 1g3 (1.6 mL, 15.2 mmol, 1 eq) dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (50 mL) at RT was added Meldrum's acid 1h1 (2.41 g, 16.73 mmol, 1.1 eq), followed by trimethyl orthoformate (2.0 mL, 18.25 mmol, 1.2 eq). The resulting mixture was heated to reflux (95° C.) for 2 h and monitoring by analytical HPLC until complete. The resulting solution was cooled to RT and evaporated to dryness to afford a beige solid that was recrystallized from boiling MeOH. After drying in vacuo adduct 1h2 was obtained as a bright yellow solid (2.29 g, 53%).

Step B: In a pre-heated sand bath (300-350° C.), diphenyl ether (6 mL) was heated until the internal temperature reached 220° C. Adduct 1h2 (981 mg, 3.48 mmol) was added portionwise over ca. 4 min period (gas evolution) to the heated solvent. The temperature (220° C.) was maintained for another 5 min. after which the solution was allowed to cool. Upon cooling, the product crashed out of solution and was filtered and washed with diethyl ether. After drying in vacuo (16 h), product 1h3 was obtained as a beige solid (417 mg, 67%). MS: (M+H)⁺; 180.

Example 1I Synthesis of P2 Moiety 8-chloro-4-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline 2I3

Step A: To a solution of ethyl acetoacetate 1i1 (1.21 mL, 9.51 mmol; 1 eq) in benzene (20 mL) was added 2-chloroaniline 1g3 (1.0 mL; 9.51 mmol; 1 eq) followed by catalytic PTSA (13 mg). The reaction flask was equipped with a Dean-Stark apparatus and heated to reflux for 2 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue purified by column chromatography using silica gel (eluent: 10% EtOAc/Hexanes; Rf=0.48) to give compound 1i2 (1.46 g, 64%) as a clear oil. MS: (M+H)⁺; 240, HPLC homogeneity=99.5%.

Step B: In a pre-heated sand bath (300-350° C.), compound 1i2 (730 mg, 3.0 mmol) in diphenyl ether (8 mL) was heated until the internal temperature reached 220° C. and that temperature was maintained for 7 minutes after which the solution was allowed to cool. Upon cooling, a beige solid crashed out and was filtered and washed with diethyl ether. After drying, the desired quinoline 1i3 was obtained as a beige solid (452 mg, 77%). MS: (M+H)⁺; 194, HPLC homogeneity=99%.

Example 1J Synthesis of P2 Moiety 2-ethylthio-8-chloro-4-hydroxyquinoline (1J7)

Step A: To THF (30 mL) was added sodium hydride (60% in oil, 920 mg, 23 mmol, 1.2 eq) before being cooled to 0° C. Diethyl malonate (2.91 mL, 19.15 mmol, 1.0 eq) was then added dropwise (gas evolution) and this solution was allowed to warm to RT and was stirred for 1 hr. This mixture was cooled down to 0° C. before the addition of 2-chlorophenyl isothiocyanate 1j1 (2.5 mL, 19.15 mmol, 1.0 eq). The resulting mixture was again allowed to warm to RT for 3 h until the starting material was consumed. The orange solution was concentrated down and dried in vacuo to afford the sodium salt adduct 1j2 (6.73 g, 100%) as an orange crystalline solid. This material was used as is for subsequent steps.

Step B: A solution of adduct 1j2 (6.0 g, 17.06 mmol, 1 eq) in DMF (50 mL) was cooled down to −45° C. Ethyl iodide (1.64 mL, 20.5 mmol, 1.2 eq) was then slowly added and the solution was stirred at −45° C. for 2 h and then at RT (16 h). Water was added and the mixture was extracted twice with a mixture of ether/hexanes (1:1, 3×150 mL). The combined organic fractions were washed with water (2×), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to afford approximately a 1:1 mixture of 1j3 and 1j4 (S versus N alkylation)(6.1 g, 100%) as a yellow oil. This mixture can be used in the following step since only the S-alkylated analog will cyclize.

Step C: In a pre-heated sand bath (350° C.) a solution of compounds 1j3 and 1j4 (6.1 g, 17.05 mmol, 1 eq.) in diphenyl ether (60 mL) was heated until the internal temperature reached 220° C., which was maintained for 7 minutes. The solution was cooled to RT and the mixture loaded directly on a silica gel column, being eluted first with hexanes (1 L) to remove the diphenyl ether, and then 3% EtOAc/hexanes to afford the desired quinoline 1j5 (2.76 g, 52%) as a pale yellow solid.

Step D: To a solution of quinoline 1j5 (2.76 g crude; 8.85 mmol; 1 eq) in THF (10 mL) and methanol (10 mL) at RT was added 1N NaOH (45 mL; 45 mmol; 5.1 eq). The reaction was allowed to stir at reflux (85° C.) for 24 h (monitored by HPLC). The mixture was acidified using 4NHCl and extracted using methylene chloride (3×). The organic fractions were dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to afford the quinoline acid 1j6 (2.43 g, 97%) as a pale yellow solid. MS: (M+H)⁺; 284. This material was used as is for the following reaction.

Step E: Compound 1j6 (2.43 g, 8.56 mmol) was added to diphenyl ether (20 mL) and the heterogeneous mixture was heated to 250° C. for 12 minutes before being cooled. The mixture was directly transferred to a silica gel column and eluted first with hexanes (to remove diphenyl ether), and then with 30% and 50% EtOAc/hexanes (Rf=0.48 in EtOAC/hexanes (1:1)). Evaporation of the solvent afforded the desired 2-ethylthio-8-chloro-4-hydroxyquinoline 1j7 (1.25 g, 61%) as a pale yellow solid. MS: (M+H)⁺; 240, HPLC homogeneity=99%.

Example 1K Synthesis of P2 Moiety 8-chloro-2-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-1,7-naphthyridine (1K3)

Step A: To 3-amino-2-chloro-pyridine 1k1 (964 mg, 7.5 mmol, 1 eq) was added imidate 1g2 (1.47 g, 7.5 mmol, 1 eq) in ethanol (15 mL) under a N₂ atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at RT for 24 h at which point the reaction was concentrated and purified directly on a silica gel column (eluent: EtOAc/Hexanes (1:9)) to afford adduct 1k2 (1.54 g, 76%) as a clear oil.

Step B: Adduct 1k2 (200 mg, 0.74 mmol) was dissolved in diphenyl ether (5 mL) and placed in a pre-heated sand bath (300° C.). The internal temperature was monitored and allowed to stay between 210° C.-225° C. for 7 minutes. The mixture was directly loaded on a silica gel column and eluted with hexanes to remove diphenyl ether, followed by a gradient of 30% to 50% EtOAc/hexanes: (Rf=0.48 in 1:1 EtOAclhexanes). Concentration and drying in vacuo afforded the desired napthyridine 1k3 (32mg, 19%) as a white solid. MS: 225 (M+H)+.

Example 1L Synthesis of P2 Moiety 2-ethoxy-8-methylthio-4-hydroxyquinoline (1L3)

Step A: The imidate salt 1g2(1.4 g, 7.2 mmol, 1 eq.) was combined with 2-(methylthio)aniline 111 (0.96 g, 7.50 mmol, 1 eq.) in ethanol (15 mL) under an N₂ atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT (1 h) and monitored by HPLC. The reaction mixture was concentrated and then ether was added and the mixture filtered. The solids were washed with ether and the combined ether washes concentrated in vacuo. The resulting adduct 1I2 was obtained as a yellow oil (1.66 g, 82%) and used as is in the next step. MS electrospray: (M+H)⁺; 282 and (M−H)⁻; 280.

Step B: The condensation product 1I2 (1.66 g, 5.90 mmol) was dissolved in diphenyl ether (10 mL) and placed in a sand bath (300° C.). The internal temperature was monitored and allowed to stay between 240-250° C. for 10 minutes. The mixture was cooled and then directly loaded on a silica gel column and eluted first with hexanes, then with 30% EtOAc/Hexanes and finally 50% EtOActhexanes. The product was concentrated and dried in vacuo to give the corresponding 4-hydroxyquinoline derivative 113 as a yellow solid (0.735 g, 53%). MS electrospray: (M+H)⁺; 236 and (M−H)⁻; 234.

Example 1M Synthesis of P2 Moiety 2-ethoxy-7-methoxy-8-methyl-4-hydroxyquinoline (1M3)

Step A: The imidate salt 1g2 (1.5 g, 7.65 mmol) was combined with 2-methyl-3-aminoanisole 1ml (1.05 g, 7.65 mmol, 1 eq.) in ethanol (15 mL) under an N₂ atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT (24 h) and monitored by HPLC. The reaction mixture was concentrated and then ether was added and the mixture filtered. The solids were washed with ether and the combined ether washes concentrated in vacuo. The resulting adduct 1m2 was purified by chromatography (SiO₂, 15% EtOAc/hexanes) to obtain as a yellow oil (2.11 g, 99%). MS electrospray: (M+H)⁺; 280 and (M−H)⁻; 278.

Step B: The condensation product 1m2 (2.1 g, 7.52 mmol) was dissolved in diphenyl ether (10 mL) and placed in a sand bath (300° C.). The internal temperature was monitored and allowed to stay between 240-250° C. for 10 minutes. The mixture was cooled and then directly loaded on a silica gel column and eluted first with hexanes, then with 30% EtOAc/Hexanes and finally 50% EtOAc/hexanes. The product was concentrated and dried in vacuo to give the corresponding 4-hydroxyquinoline derivative 1m3 as a yellow oil which solidified upon standing to a yellow solid (1.09g, 62%). MS electrospray: (M+H)⁺; 233.4 and (M−H)⁻; 231.9.

Example 1N Synthesis of P2 Building Block 2-ethoxy-8-methoxy-4-hydroxyquinoline (1N3)

Step A and B: Beginning with ortho-anisidine 1n1 and following the same protocol as outlined in previous examples, the desired 8-methoxyquinoline derivative 1n3 was obtained in 38% overall yield as a pale yellow solid. MS: 220 (M+H)⁺.

Example 1O Synthesis of P2 Building Block 8-bromo-2-ethoxy-4-hydroxy 7-methoxy-quinoline (1O2)

Step A: To 2-bromo-3-aminoanisole 1b4 (750 mg, 3.7 mmol, 1 eq) was added imidate 1g2 (0.73 g, 3.7 mmol, 1 eq) in ethanol (7 mL) under a N₂ atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at RT for 24 h at which point the reaction was concentrated and purified directly on a silica gel column (eluent: EtOAc/Hexanes (1:9)) to afford adduct 1o1 (1.12 g, 88%) as a pale yellow oil. MS: 344 (M+H)⁺ and 346 (MH+2)⁺.

Step B, Adduct 1o1 (1.12 g, 3.25 mmol) was dissolved in diphenyl ether (10 mL) and placed in a pre-heated sand bath (300° C.). The internal temperature was monitored and allowed to stay between 240° C.-250° C. for 8 minutes. The mixture was directly loaded on a silica gel column and eluted with hexanes to remove diphenyl ether, followed by a gradient of 30% to 50% EtOAc/hexanes: (Rf=0.25 in 1:1 EtOAc/hexanes). Concentration and drying in vacuo afforded the desired quinoline 1o2 (734 mg, 76%) as a white solid. MS: 298 (M+H)⁺ and 300 (MH+2)⁺.

Example 1P Synthesis of P2 Moiety 5-ethoxy-thieno[3.2-b]pyridin-7-ol (1P3)

Step A: To available thiophen-3-ylamine 1p1 (0.50 g, 5.04 mmol) was added imidate 1g2 (1.08 g, 5.5 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) under a N₂ atmosphere. The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 h at which point the reaction was concentrated. To the residue was added ether, and the suspension filtered and washed with ether to afford adduct 1p2(1.0 g, 82%). This material was sufficiently clean to be used in the subsequent step. MS: 242.1 (MH)⁺.

Step B: Adduct 1p2 (1.0 g, 4.14 mmol) was dissolved in diphenyl ether (5 mL) and placed in a pre-heated sand bath (300° C.). The internal temperature was monitored and allowed to stay between 210° C.-225° C. for 7 minutes. The mixture was directly loaded on a silica gel column and eluted with hexanes to remove diphenyl ether, followed by a gradient of 30% EtOAclhexane to neat EtOAc. Concentration and drying in vacuo afforded the desired thieno[3.2-b]pyridinol 1p3 (200 mg, 25%) as a brown solid. MS: 196 (MH)⁺.

Example 1Q General Synthesis of P2 Moiety 6-substituted-2H-idoquinoline-1-one (1Q3)

Briefly, 6-substituted isoquinolones, wherein R^(200a) is R²⁰⁰ as defined herein, can be made from 3-substituted cinnamic acid derivatives by first activation with a chloroformate in base followed by treatment with an azide source. The resulting acyl azide can undergo a Curtius rearrangement followed by thermal cyclization to afford the appropriately substituted isoquinolones. As described here, the cinnamic acid can be differentially substituted.

Example 1R Preparation of 6-methoxy-2H-isoquinoline-1-one (1R3)

In general, the isoquinolines were prepared according to the following reference; Tetrahedron, 2002, 58, 5761-5766.

Step A: The 3-methoxycinnamic acid 1r1 (2.5 g, 14.03 mmol) was dissolved in acetone (40 mL) and treated with triethylamine (3.94 mL, 28.06 mmol). The solution was cooled to 0° C. and then treated dropwise with ethyl chloroformate (2.0 mL, 21 mmol). A white precipitate immediately formed upon addition of each drop. The solution was stirred for 1 h (with a suspension) before being treated with sodium azide (0.91 g, 14.03 mmol) in 10 mL of H₂O dropwise over 30 min. The mixture was allowed to stir at rt 16 h before being diluted with water (20 mL) and the volatiles removed in vacuo. The aqueous phase was extracted with toluene (2×60 mL), dried over MgSO₄, and then filtered and concentrated to give a yellow oil (2.23 g) which solidified to a yellow solid 1r2 upon standing.

Step B: The diphenyl ether (10 mL) and tributylamine (7 mL) were heated in a sand bath to 190° C. before the dropwise addition of the acyl azide 1r2 (behind an explosion shield) in toluene (5 mL) over several minutes. The toluene distilled off and the temperature was raised to 210° C. for 2 h. After cooling, the precipitated product was collected by filtration and washed with hexanes to give the desired isoquinoline 1r3 (0.47 g, 19%). MS (electrospray); (M+H)⁺; 176 and (M−H)⁻; 174. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ11.05 (bs, 1H), 8.07 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.16-7.09 (m, 2H), 7.04 (dd, J=9, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.47 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 3.86 (s, 3H).

Example 1S Synthesis of P2 Moiety 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methyl-quinoline (1S2)

Step 1: To aniline 1a2 (Example 1A) (504 mg; 3.67 mmol) dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (5.0 mL) was added Meldrum's acid 1h1 (582.4 mg; 4.04 mmol) followed by trimethyl orthoformate (482.3 μL; 4.41 mmol). The resulting brown solution was refluxed for 2 hours and the reaction judged complete by HPLC and TLC (Hexane:EtOAc; 6:4) Note : With the onset of heat a grey precipitate formed rendering stirring difficult. Therefore, an additional 5 mL of acetonitrile was added to eventually obtain a clear yellow solution within the first hour. The reaction mixture was cooled to RT and evaporated to dryness. The crude yellow solid was dissolved in a minimum amount of boiling MeOH and water slowly added till just cloudy to precipitate the product which was filtered, rinsed with water and dried to provide a light tan crystalline solid 1s1 (845.5 mg; 79% yield). NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) and MS 290.1 confirmed the product. Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm: 99%.

Step 2: A three-neck flask containing diphenyl ether (1.9 mL; 11.75 mmol) was placed into a preheated sand bath heated to −300° C. and the sand bath allowed to slowly heat further to 330° C. so as the internal temperature was between 245-250° C. The aniline derivative 1s1 was added portion-wise (immediately seeing gas evolution) at a rate as to maintain the internal temperature at 240-245° C. (addition time 5-10 min). Once addition was complete, the yellow solution was maintained at 245-250° C. for 20 minutes. TLC (Hexane:EtOAc 6:4) indicated the consumption of starting material, however, the reaction mixture was left another 20 minutes to ensure complete intermediate decarboxylation. The mixture was worked-up by cooling the brownish solution to RT at which time a solid precipitated. The material was triturated with ether, filtered, rinsed and dried to provide the quinoline product 1s2 as a tan brown solid (216.7 mg; 83%). NMR (DMSO, 400 MHz) indicates the product to be mainly in the keto tautomer form. MS 187.9, 190.0 confirmed the product. Homogeneity by HPLC (TFA)@220 nm :97%.

Synthesis of P1′ Fragments

Example 2A Synthesis of P1′ Fragment Sulfamide 2A3

Step 1: Reagent 2a1 (0.3 g, 0.99 mmol) [prepared according to Winum, J-Y; Toupet, L; Barragan, V; Dewynter, G; Montero, J-L., Org. Lett., 14(3), 2241-2243 (2001)] was suspended in CH₂Cl₂ before morpholine (0.086 mL, 0.99 mmol) was added and stirred for 5 h. The reaction was followed by TLC. On completion the reaction mixture was directly adsorbed on the silica gel and eluted the product with 6% MeOH in CHCl₃ to afford 0.258 g (98%) of compound 2a2 as a white solid.

Step 2: Compound 2a2 (0.150 g, 0.56 mmol) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) and treated with TFA (1 mL). The reaction was stirred for 4 h and monitored by TLC. Upon completion, the solvent was evaporated and the residue directly adsorbed on the silica gel and eluted with 5% MeOH in CHCl₃ to afford 0.075 g (80.2%) of compound 2a3 as a white solid.

Example 2B Synthesis of P1′ Fragment Sulfamide (2B2)

Step A: Reagent 2a1 (1.5 g, 4.98 mmol) was suspended in 12 mL of CH₂Cl₂ before the pyrroline (0.40 mL, 5.22 mmol, 1.05 eq) was added and stirred overnight. On completion, the reaction mixture was directly adsorbed on the silica gel and eluted the product with 1% AcOEt in CH₂Cl₂ to afford 0.919 g (74%) of compound 2b1 as a white solid.

Step B: Compound 2b1 (0.919 g, 3.70 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL of CH₂Cl₂ and treated with TFA (2 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The solvent was then evaporated in vacuo, the residue was dried under vacuum to afford 0.565 g (quantitative) of compound 2b2 as a beige solid.

Example 2C Synthesis of P1′ Fragment Sulfamide (2c2)

Step A: Note: the reaction was performed on a solid phase synthesizer (Advanced Chemtech ACT 396), using the 96-wells block. The starting material 2a1 (45.2 mg, 0.15 mmol) was weighed in 96 Eppendorf vials and 96 different amines (0.18 mmol, 1.2 eq) were weighed and placed in separate Eppendorf vials. Each well of the reaction block were filled with 1.2 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane and the starting material 2a1 and the various amines were added. The reaction mixtures were shaken for 12 h in the case of aliphatic amines and for 36 h in the case of aniline derivatives. After the required stirring time, PS-trisamine resin was added to each well (Argonaut Technologies, 3.42 mmol/g loading, 0.63 mmol, 0.184 g, 4.2 eq). After shaking for 3 h, the solvent was drained and the resins were washed successively with CH₂Cl₂ (3×1 mL), MeOH (3×1 mL) and CH₂Cl₂ (3×1 mL). In each well was then added CH₂Cl₂ (1.2 mL) and AcOH (100 μl) and the shaking was maintained for 30 minutes. The solutions were drained in pre-tarred 2 drams vials to recover the filtrate and each resins were washed once with CH₂Cl₂ (1.2 mL) and MeOH (1.2 mL). The filtrates were recovered in the same 2-dram vials as before. The vials were finally placed on a vacuum centrifuge to remove the solvent and the desired products 2c1 were obtained in 41-54% yields (18-27 mg of product). Those compounds were used as is in the next step.

Step B: The products 2c1 in 2-dram vials were dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane (0.5 mL) and TFA (0.5 mL) and the vials were shaken on an orbital shaker for 1.5 h. The volatiles were removed on a vacuum centrifuge to afford the desired products 2c2 in yields ranging from 71% to quantitative (12-20 mg of product). Those compounds were used as is in the next step of synthesis of compounds of formula (I).

Example 2D Synthesis of P1′ Fragment 1-methylcyclopropylsulfonamide (2D7)

Cyclopropanesulfonamide can be prepared by amination of cyclopropanesulfonyl chloride, according to the literature reference of J. King et al., J. Org. Chem., 1993, 58, 1128-1135, or as set out below.

Step 1: A dry 3 L 3-neck flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar, addition funnel and argon inlet was flushed with argon, then charged with 3-chloropropanesulfonyl chloride 2d1 (100.48 g, 0.57 mol, 1.0 eq). Anhydrous dichloromethane (900 mL) was transferred into the flask via cannula, the mixture was cooled in an ice/water bath and tert-butylamine (72 mL, 0.68 mol, 1.2 eq) was added. The mixture was stirred 15 minutes then a solution of triethylamine (158 mL, 1.13 mol, 2.0 eq) in anhydrous dichloromethane (100 mL) was added dropwise over 45 minutes and stirring was continued for 1 h. The mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (500 mL) and washed with 1 NHCl (3×400 mL) and brine. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness to give compound 2d2 as an orange-beige solid (107.04 g, 88% yield). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): δ4.46 (s,1H), 3.71 (tr, 2H), 3.25 (tr, 2H), 2.31 (m, 2H), 1.41 (s, 9H).

Step 2: A dry 5 L 3-neck flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar, argon inlet and 2 addition funnels was flushed with argon and anhydrous THF (1.5 L) was transferred into the flask via cannula and cooled to −78° C. Compound 2d2 (96.73 g, 0.453 mol, 1.0 eq) was dissolved in anhydrous THF (390 mL) and the solution was transferred into one of the addition funnels. n-Butyllithium solution (2.5 M in hexanes, 390 mL, 0.975 mol, 2.15 eq) was transferred to the other addition funnel and the solutions in the addition funnels were added to the flask simultaneously over 4 hours. When addition was complete, the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature. Once the internal temperature reached ˜0° C., the reaction was quenched by dropwise addition of saturated NH₄Cl solution (200 mL). The THF was removed under vacuum and the residue was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (2 L) and water (1 L). The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with water (2×1 L) and brine (800 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Compound 2d3 was obtained as an orange-beige solid (77.32 g, 96% yield). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): δ4.25 (s,1H), 2.48 (m,1H), 1.42 (s, 9H), 1.19 (m), 1.01 (m).

Step 3:A 2L flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar and condenser was charged with Compound 2d3 (82.53 g, 0.466 mol, 1.0 eq), dichloromethane (400 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (460 mL, 5.97 mol, 13 eq). The mixture was heated to reflux for 2 h, allowed to cool, and evaporated and co-evaporated several times with CH₂Cl₂ to remove most of the TFA. The crude product was dissolved in 95:5 CH₂Cl₂:MeOH and NH₄OH and was purified by silica gel column chromatography (94:5:1 CH₂Cl₂:MeOH:NH₄OH). Compound 2d4 was obtained as a beige solid (46.38 g, 78% yield). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz): δ6.79 (s, 2H), 2.54 (1H, under DMSO peak), 0.92 (4H).

Step 4:To the solid cyclopropanesulfonamide 2d4 (1.51 g; 12.46 mmol) was added in sequence: di-t-butyl-dicarbonate (3.26 g; 14.95 mmol) dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane (15 mL), triethylamine (2.6 mL; 18.65 mmol) and dimethylaminopyridine (76 mg; 0.622 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature overnight and subsequently evaporated to near dryness. The residue was diluted with EtOAc, washed with 1 N aq. HCl (3×) and brine (1×), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and evaporated to dryness to provide the Boc-cyclopropylsulfonamide product 2d5 as a white solid (2.6 g; 94%).

Step 5:To a cooled solution (−78° C.) of the Boc-cyclopropanesulfonamide 2d5 (500 mg; 2.26 mmol) in anhydrous THF (15 mL) was added dropwise n-BuLi (2.1 mL; 5.20 mmol) and the mixture was allowed to stir 1 h at −78° C. Two portions of methyl iodide (each 280 μL; 4.52 mmol) were added with a one hour interval and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm slowly to RT and stir at RT overnight. The reaction mixture was adjusted to pH 3 with 1 N aq. HCl and the product was extracted with EtOAc (3×). The combined EtOAc extracts were washed with brine (1×), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and evaporated to dryness to provide the crude alkylated product 2d6 as a light yellow oil. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography over silica gel with hexane: EtOAc (9:1) as eluent to provide pure product as a yellow oil (151.8 mg; 29%).

Step 6:To a solution of the Boc-1-methylcyclopropanesulfonamide 2d6 (151.8 mg: 0.65 mmol) in dichloromethane (6 mL) was added trifluroacetic acid (6 mL) and the mixture allowed to stir at RT for 3.5 h. Evaporation to dryness under high vacuum provided the deprotected material 2d7 as an off- white wax like solid (79.1 mg, 91%). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): δ4.56 (s, 2H), 1.58 (s, 3H), 1.43-1.38 (m, 2H), 0.85-0.80 (2H).

Synthesis of P1-P1′ Fragments

Example 3A Example of P1-P1′ Fragment (3A3)

Step 1:

To a solution of compound 3a1 (12 g, 38.29 mmol) in a mixture of THF (50 mL) and 1 N aq. NaOH (85 mL, 85.00 mmol) was added Boc anhydride (10 g, 45.95 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 4 days. The pH was periodically adjusted to 9 by adding more NaOH. The THF was then removed in vacuo and the aqueous layer was washed with ether (3×150 mL) and then cooled to 0° C. for the slow addition of 1 N aq. HCl until pH 3-4 was obtained. The aqueous layer was then extracted with EtOAc (3×150 mL) and the combined organic extracts were successively washed with water (3×100 mL) and brine. After drying over MgSO₄, filtration and concentration, 5.16 g of the desired Boc-protected intermediate 3a2 was isolated.

Step 2:

To a solution of acid 3a2 (567 mg, 2.49 mmol), in THF (20 mL), was added CDI (515 mg, 3.17 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred for 30 min, refluxed for 30 min and allowed to cool down to RT. Cyclopropylsulfonamide 2d4 (455 mg, 3.76 mmol) was added followed by the addition of DBU (0.75 mL, 5.02 mmol) and the reaction was stirred 12 h. The THF was removed in vacuo and the residue was diluted with EtOAc, washed with 1 M HCl (2×100 mL) and brine, dried (MgSO₄) and purified by flash chromatography (elution conditions: 70:30 hexane/EtOAc) to afford 682 mg (82%) of compound 3a3 as a white solid.

Synthesis of Succinic Acid Moieties

Briefly, the succinate fragments can be made by a regioselective anhydride opening with the corresponding amine under basic conditions.

Example 4A General Procedure for the Preparation of Succinic Acid Fragment 4A2

(S)-2-tert-Butylsuccinic anhydride 4a1 was prepared according to literature methods [P. Beaulieu et al., J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40 (14), 2164-2176 and S. Widequist, Ark. Kemi. 1950, 2, 321; Chem.Abstr. 1951, 45, 2870a and T. Polonski, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1,1988, 629-637.]

The (S)-2-tert-butylsuccinic anhydride 4a1 (1 eq) was dissolved in pyridine and the solution cooled to −40° C. (dry ice/acetone). The amine R⁵—NH₂, wherein R⁵ is defined as herein (1.2 eq) in pyridine was added dropwise and the mixture stirred for 10 min. The cooling bath was removed and the solution stirred overnight at room temperature. Pyridine and excess amine were evaporated under vacuum, and the oily residue was dissolved in EtOAc. The solution was washed successively with 20% aqueous citric acid (4×) and brine (2×) and then dried over MgSO₄. Removal of volatiles under reduced pressure and purification by crystallization or flash chromatography gave desired amides 4a2 usually as white solids.

Example 4B Preparation of (S)-2-tert-butylsuccinic N⁴-aniline amide 4B1

Step A: The (S)-tert-butyl succinic anhydride 4a1 (0.5 g, 3.2 mmol) was dissolved in pyridine (12 mL) and cooled to −40° C. before aniline (0.44 mL. 4.8 mmol) was added dropwise from a syringe over ca. 2 minutes. The solution was allowed to stir at 40° C. for 10 minutes and then allowed to slowly warm to RT. The reaction was stirred 16 h before removing the pyridine in vacuo. The yellowish oil was taken up in EtOAc and washed sequentially with 10% citric acid and saturated brine, then dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to give the crude product 4b1 as an oil.This material was dissolved in EtOAc/Et₂O (5 mL each) and then hexane was added dropwise until cloudy. The solution was heated to form a homogeneous solution and then allowed to cool. The crystalline material was collected and washed with cold hexanes to give the desired succinic acid 4b1 (0.35 g, 44%). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ12.05 (s, 1H), 9.92 (s, 1H), 7.56 (d, J=8 Hz, 2H), 7.27 (t, J=8 Hz, 2H), 6.82 (t, J=7 Hz, 1H), 2.75-2.5 (m, 3H), 0.96 (s, 9H). Homogeneity by analytical HPLC=99.8%. MS: (M+H)⁺; 250.1 and (M+Na)⁺; 272.1.

Example 4C Preparation of (S)-2-tert-butylsuccinic N⁴-cyclopentylamide 4c1

Step A: Using the same approach as described in Example 4B above but replacing aniline by cyclopentyl-amine, the corresponding succinic acid derivative 4c1 was prepared in 34% yield. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ11.01 (bs, 1H), 2.83-2.69 (m, 1H), 2.40-2.30 (m, 1H), 2.20-2.08 (m, 1H),1.85-1.70 (m, 3H), 1.70-1.55 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.40 (m, 2H), 1.40-1.25 (m, 2H), 1.0 (s, 9H). MS: (M+H)+; 242.1, (M+Na)+; 264.1.

Synthesis of Inhibitors

Example 5A General Method for the Preparation of Inhibitors

Briefly, the brosylate dipeptide can under go a displacement reaction with the cesium salts of quinolines, isoquinolines or other hydroxyl aromatic groups upon heating to incorporate with inversion of configuration the aryl group on the proline ring. Removal of the tert-butyl carbamate followed by coupling of the succinic acid moiety puts in place the succinamide moiety. The P1 ester can then be hydrolyzed before the formation of the azalactone. Opening of the azalactone with the lithium salt of a sulfonamides or sulfonyl diamides furnishes the final products.

Example 5B Alternative General Method for the Preparation of Inhibitors

As an alternative approach for the preparation of a (S)-2-tert-butylsuccinic acid moiety, a general method for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure a-substituted succinic acid derivatives has been described by D. Evans et. al., J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64(17), 6411-6417, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

According to this approach, the oxazolidinone analog of tert-butylacetic acid is alkylated stereoselectively with tert-butyl bromoacetate at low temperature with a strong base to yield the enantiomerically pure succinate derivative. Removal of the chiral auxiliary leads to the desired succinate analog. This succinate ester can be coupled to the dipeptide (with the R²⁰ substitutent already introduced) using the coupling protocols as described hereinbefore and hereinafter to give the tert-butyl ester protected coupled succinate as shown in the reaction scheme below:

Briefly, the tert-butyl ester can be cleaved with HCl/dioxane to liberate the terminal acid which can then be readily coupled with a variety of primary amines R⁵—NH₂. Hydrolysis of the P1 methyl ester group and subsequent azalactone formation followed by azalactone opening with the lithium salt of sulfonamides or sulfonyl diamides yield the final products.

Example 5C Preparation of Dipeptide Intermediate

Step A: To a 3-necked 5 L RB flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer was added 1N NaOH (aq) solution (1.68 L, 1.68 mol, 1.1 eq), followed by trans-L-4-hydroxyproline 5cl (200 g, 1.525 mol, 1.0 eq) and tert-butanol (1000 mL). The Boc₂O (400 g, 1.83 mol, 1.2 eq) was added portionwise over ca. 60 minutes, keeping the internal temperature below 35° C. Upon completion of the addition, the reaction was allowed to stir 18 hours at RT. The mixture was extracted with pentane (2×300 mL) and the aqueous phase acidified to pH 1.0-1.5 with KHSO₄ (aq) [prepared by dissolving 315 g of KHSO₄ in 2L H₂O]. The turbid aqueous mixture was then extracted with EtOAc (4×500 mL), and washed with sat. brine (1×1 L), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was co-evaporated with methylene chloride/hexane to give white solid 5c2, 333.3 g (95% yield). MS (electrospray): 132: (MH−Boc)⁺, and 230 (M−H)−. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆), δ12.47 (bs, 1H), 5.04 (s, 1H), 4.11 (t, 1H), 3.44-3.20 (m, 1H), 3.24 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 2.16-2.04 (m, 1H), 1.94-1.83 (m, 1H), 1.39 and 1.34 rotamers (2 x s, 9H).

Step B: To a 3-necked RB flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer, a dropping funnel, and a thermometer, was added a mixture of 1-amino-2-ethenylcyclopropylcarboxylic acid (100 g, 319 mmol, 1.1 eq) as the tosylate salt, Boc-hydroxyproline 5c2 (67 g, 290 mmol, 1 eq) and TBTU (2-1H-benzotriazol-1-yl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium-hexafluoroborate) (102.4 g, 319 mmol, 1.1 eq). These reagents were completely dissolved in DMF (1 L) at 20° C. and then cooled with an water/ice bath to about 15° C. Next, diisopropylethyl amine (DIPEA) (160 mL, 918 mmol, 3.17 eq) was added dropwise from the dropping funnel at a rate as to maintain the internal temperature at/or below 20° C. (exothermic reaction). Upon completion of the base addition, the reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 4 hours (checked periodically by HPLC). The reaction mixture was concentrated on the rotary evaporator under high vacuum keeping the water bath temperature below 45° C. to give an orange-red, oily residue. The residue was diluted with 1000 mL of EtOAc and the solution washed with sat. NaHCO₃ (aq) (4×300 mL). All washes were combined and back-extracted with 4×300 mL EtOAc. All organic solutions were than combined, washed with brine (1×300 mL), dried with NaCl+MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give a yellow foam, which was than dried in high vacuum to give yellow solid 5c3. This solid was crushed with a mortar and pestle, then triturated with 1 L hexane and then filtered off and dried in vacuo to give 96.06 g of compound 4 (93.6% yield). This material can be used as is in the following Mitsunobu step.

Step C: In a 3-necked 5000 mL RB flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer, a 250 mL dropping funnel, and a thermometer, was placed dipeptide 5c3 (206.37 g, 542 mmol), 191 g (728 mmol, 1.3 eq) triphenylphosphine, and 121 g (724 mmol, 1.3 eq) p-nitrobenzoic acid in 2000 mL dry (“sure seal”) THF. The mixture was stirred under an atmosphere of argon until all solids had dissolved. The reaction mixture was then cooled in an ice-bath to 0° C. (internal temperature) and a mixture of 172 mL of DIAD (873 mmol, 1.6 eq) and 100 mL of dry THF were added dropwise from the dropping funnel over 1.5 hr at a rate as to maintain the temperature below 5° C. Upon completion of the addition, the reaction mixture was allowed to stir from 3° C. to RT, slowly being allowed to warm overnight. After 16 hrs, the progress of the reaction was verified by analytical HPLC and TLC (neat EtOAc, visualized with molybdate stain) to show complete disappearance of the starting material. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 2000 mL of EtOAc and then washed with 5×500 mL sat. NaHCO₃ (aq.) and 2×500 mL sat. brine. The organic phase was then checked by HPLC to show the absence of nitrobenzoic acid. The organic phase was dried with NaCI+MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give compound 5c4 (600 g) as a yellow-orange solid.

Example 5D Preparation of Key Brosylate Dipeptide Intermediate

Step A: The purified compound 5c4 (2.15 g, 4.27 mmol) was dissolved in THF (57 mL) and water (9 mL) and cooled to 0° C. (ice bath). Solid LiOH (monohydrate) (224 mg, 5.34 mmol, 1.3 eq) was dissolved in water (9 mL) and added to the cooled solution over ca. 10 minutes with rapid stirring. The reaction was stirred for 2 hours (0° C.) until the starting material had been completely consumed by HPLC analysis. The excess base was neutralized with 0.5NHCl to give a final pH of 6. The THF was evaporated off and the residue dissolved in EtOAc and washed 3× with sat. NaHCO₃ (aq), followed by sat. brine (1×). The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to dryness to give a white foamy solid (1.35 g). Purification by flash chromatograghy (column diameter: 50 mm) with regular mesh silica gel (150 mL) to a height of about 13 cm. The initial eluent was Hexane/EtOAc (2:8), then neat EtOAc to obtain the desired product 5d1 as a white foamy solid (1.25 g, 83% yield). HPLC homogeneity was 97%,

MS: 353.1 (M−H)⁻ and 377.1 (M+Na)⁺.

Step B: The purified dipeptide 5d1 (1.25 g, 3.53 mmol) and 4-bromobenzene sulfonyl chloride (1.89 g, 7.41 mmol, 2.1 eq) were dissolved in methylene chloride (48 mL). To this solution was added triethylamine (1.74 mL, 12.5 mmol, 3.5 eq), and a catalytic amount of DMAP (43 mg, 0.35 mmol, 0.1 eq). The reaction was stirred at 40° C. for 16 hours before being diluted with EtOAc, and then washed with sat. NaHCO₃ (aq) (2×), water(2×), and sat. brine (1×). The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a beige-orangy foam (2.3 g crude wt). This material was purified by flash chromatography and eluted with 1:1 hexane/EtOAc which provided 1.68 g of an off-white foamy solid 5d2 (83%). HPLC analysis gave >99% homogeneity, MS: 571.1 and 573 (es− mode) and 573.1 and 575 (in es+ mode). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ7.77 (d, 2H), 7.70 (d, 2H), 5.83-5.71 (m, 1H), 5.28 (d, 1H), 5.15 (d, 1H), 5.07 (bs, 1H), 4.31 (bd, 1H), 3.77-3.63 (m, 2H), (3.69 (s, 3H), 2.49 (bs,1H), 2.11-2.02 (m,1H), 1.87-1.80 (m,1H), 1.49 (d, 2H), 1.45 (s, 9H).

Example 5E Preparation of Intermediate 5E2

Step A: The Boc-dipeptide 5d2 (300 mg, 0.52 mmol) was dissolved in NMP (5 mL) with the isoquinoline (76 mg, 0.52 mmol) and cesium carbonate (284 mg, 0.89 mmol) and stirred at 72° C. for 3 hrs. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (60 mL) and washed several times with sat. brine. The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give the crude material as two products 5e1 and 5e2. Purification by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 80% EtOAc/hexanes) gave the desired O-alkylated product 5e1 (0.13 g, 48%). MS: (M+H)⁺; 512.2.

Example 5F Preparation of Compound 1003 (TABLE 1)

Steps B and C: The purified Boc-dipeptide 5e1 (139 mg, 0.27 mmol) was deprotected with 4N HCl/dioxane (4 mL) over 30 min at RT. The HCl salt was obtained in quantitative yield after concentration in vacuo. To the HCl salt 5f1 (80.6 mg, 0.18 mmol) was added the succinic acid derivative 5f2 (prepared using the method of Example 4A, wherein R⁵ is 1,1-dimethylethyl) (45 mg, 0.20 mmol) and HATU (82 mg, 0.22 mmol) in DMF (2 mL). The solution was treated with DIPEA (110 μL, 0.63 mmol) and the reaction allowed to stir at RT (16 h). The mixture was concentrated in vacuo and then extracted into EtOAc and washed with sat. NaHCO₃ (aq), 10% HCl (aq) and finally sat. brine, and dried over (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated to give the coupled product 5f3 (112 mg).

Step D: Compound 5f3 was dissolved in MeOH/THF (1 mL each) and treated with 1 N NaOH (1.48 mL, 1.48 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 5 hours before being concentrated to dryness. The acid was partitioned between EtOAc and 5% HCl (aq) and then dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to give a white solid (105 mg, 93%). The dried acid (0.17 mmol) was dissolved in methylene chloride (4 mL) and cooled to 0° C. before isobutyl chloroformate (27 μL, 0.21 mmol) and triethylamine (72 μL, 0.52 mmol) were added. The solution was allowed to warm to RT and stirred 4 hours. The mixture was concentrated to dryness and passed through a short plug of SiO₂ (eluted with methylene chloride). Concentration gave the desired azalactone 5f4 (100 mg, 98%). MS: (M+H)+; 591.2.

Step E: The azalactone 5f4 was ring opened by first preparation of the lithium salt of the sulfonamide. To the sulfonamide 2d4 (17.8 mg, 0.15 mmol) in THF (3 mL) was added LHMDS (129 μl, 0.13 mmol, 1M in THF). This mixture was stirred 1 h before being added to the azalactone 5f4 (51 mg, 0.086 mmol) in THF (2 mL) at 0° C. The cooling bath was removed after 30 min and the reaction allowed to stir 16 h. The reaction was concentrated and dissolved in DMSO for purification by preparative HPLC to give after lyophilization, 15.4 mg (25%) of the final product, compound 1003. MS: (M+H)+; 712.3, (M−H)−; 710.3. Homogeneity by analytical HPLC (TFA)=96.3%). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.45 (s, 1H), 9.03 (s, 1H), 8.29 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (d, J=6 Hz, 1H), 7.295 (d, J=6 Hz, 3H), 7.075 (dd, J=8, 2 Hz, 1H), 5.76-5.71 (m, 1H), 5.70-5.57 (m, 1H), 5.21 (dd, J=17,1Hz, 2H), 5.08 (dd, J=10, 2 Hz, 1H), 4.375 (bd, J=11Hz, 1H), 4.34-4.27 (m, 1H), 3.93 (dd, J=11, 4 Hz, 1H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 2.96-2.86 (m, 1H), 2.72-2.61 (m, 1H), 2.46-2.37 (m, 1H), 2.23-2.09 (m, 4H), 1.72-1.66 (m, 1H), 1.27-1.22 (m, 1H), 1.08 (s, 9H), 1.06-1.0 (m, 4H), 0.95 (s, 9H).

Example 5G Preparation of Compound 1007 (TABLE 1)

Step A: The brosylate 5d2 (0.227 g, 0.4 mmol) was combined with the quinoline 1o2 (0.118 g, 0.4 mmol) and cesium carbonate (0.28 g, 0.87 mmol) in NMP (5 mL) before being heated to 72° C. for 3 hrs. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed several times with sat. brine. The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated. This material was purified by chromatography (SiO₂, 50% EtOAc/hexane) to afford 0.215 g (86%) of the desired product 5g1. MS: (M+H)⁺; 634.2 and (MH+2)⁺; 636. Homogeneity by analytical HPLC (98%, t_(R)=7.2 min).

Step B: The dipeptide 5g1 (0.043 g, 0.068 mmol) was deprotected with 4N HCl/dioxane (1 mL) for 1 h before being concentrated to give the HCl salt. This was combined with the succinic acid residue 5f2 (Example 5F) (0.019 g, 0.082 mmol), HATU (0.033 g, 0.088 mmol), and finally DIPEA (0.059 mL, 0.34 mmol) in DMF (3.5 mL). The reaction was stirred 16 h at rt before being concentrated to dryness. The residue was extracted into EtOAc, and washed with 5% HCl, sat.NaHCO₃ (aq) and brine. The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated to give compound 5g2 as a white solid (0.051 g). MS: (MH+2)⁺; 747.2. This material was used as is in the following step.

Step C: The tripeptide 5g2 (0.051 g, 0.068 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH/THF (2 mL and 1 mL) before being treated with 1 N NaOH (aq) (0.54 mL, 0.54 mmol) at RT. The reaction was stirred 16 h before being concentrated to dryness. The residue was extracted into EtOAc and washed with 10% HCl and brine. The organic phase was dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated and placed on high vacuum for 16 h to furnish the acid 5g3 as a white solid (49 mg, 98%). Analytical HPLC, t_(R)=6.87 min. This dried material was used in the azalactone formation step.

Step D: To the acid 5g3 (49 mg, 0.067 mmol) in methylene chloride (5 mL) was added IBCF (11.5 μL, 0.089 mmol), and triethylamine (41.4 μL, 0.295 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT (monitoring by HPLC) for 4 hours,until complete by HPLC (t_(R)=7.35 minutes, azalactone). The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness and passed through a pad of silica gel (methylene chloride eluted) and the residue 5g4 was used in the next step without any further purification.

Step E: In a separate flask, the sulfonamide 2d4 (17.1 mg, 0.14 mmol) was dissolved in THF (3 mL) and treated at 0° C. with LHMDS (1M in THF, 127 μL, 0.127 mmol). This mixture was stirred at RT for 30 minutes before being cooled to 0° C. The azalactone 5g4 from above (48 mg, 0.067 mmol) was added to the lithium salt in THF (2 mL) and stirred at 0° C. (30 min) and then at RT (16 h). The mixture was concentrated and dissolved in DMSO and purified by preparative HPLC to give the desired acyl sulphonamide, compound 1007, as a white solid 3.05 mg (6%). MS: (M+H)⁺; 834.1 and (MH+2)⁺; 836.1. Homogeneity by analytical HPLC (TFA)=100% (t_(R)=7.55 min). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ10.45 (s, 1H), 9.02 (s, 1H), 8.19 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 7.28 (s, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=9.2 Hz, 1H), 6.42 (s, 1H), 5.65 (dt, J=18, 10 Hz, 1H), 5.41-5.35 (m, 1H), 5.22 (d, J=18 Hz, 1H), 5.085 (d, J=12 Hz, 1H), 3.94 (s, (q, J=7 Hz, 1H), 4.42 (bd, J=12 Hz, 1H), 4.26 (dd, J=11, 6.4 Hz, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.90 (dd, J=11. 4 Hz, 1H), 3.0-2.9 (m, 1H), 2.51 (d, J=9 Hz, 1H), 2.23-2.07 (m, 4H), 1.39 (t, 3H), 1.38-1.33 (m, 1H), 1.12-1.05 (m, 4H), 1.03 (s, 9H), 0.94 (s, 9H).

Example 5H Preparation of Dipeptide Intermediate 5H1

Step A: The Boc-dipeptide 5d2 (1.0 g, 1.74 mmol) was dissolved in NMP (10 mL) with the 8-chloro-2-ethoxy-4-hydroxyquinoline 1g5 (0.41 g, 1.83 mmol) and cesium carbonate (0.85 g, 2.62 mmol) and stirred at 72° C. for 4 hrs. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (60 mL) and washed several times with sat. brine. The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give the crude material 5h1. Purification by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 35% EtOAc/hexanes) gave the desired product 5h1 (0.91 g, 96%). MS: (M+H)⁺; 560.2 and (M−H)⁻; 558.2.

Example 5I Preparation of Compound 1016 (TABLE 1)

Steps B and C: The ester 5h1 was dissolved in MeOH and THF (6 mL each) and then treated with 1N NaOH (aq)(13.9 mL, 13.9 mmol). The clear reaction mixture was stirred at RT and was complete after 2 hr. The reaction was concentrated to dryness and partitioned between EtOAc and water. The aqueous phase was separated and acidified to pH 5, then extracted into EtOAc. This phase was dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated to give the corresponding acid. MS: (M−H)−; 544.2. This material was dried under high vacuum before being used in the next step.

The dried acid (0.912 g, 1.67 mmol) was dissolved in methylene chloride (15 mL) and cooled to 0° C. before isobutyl chloroformate (0.32 mL, 2.5 mmol) and triethylamine (0.77 mL, 5.51 mmol) were added. After 1 h, the solution was allowed to warm to RT and stirred 16 hrs. The mixture was concentrated to dryness and purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, 20% EtOAc/hexane). Concentration of the pure fractions gave the desired azalactone 5i1 (0.64 g, 73%).

Step D: The azalactone 5i1 was ring opened by first preparation of the lithium salt of the sulfonamide. To the sulfonamide 2d7 (16.8 mg, 0.124 mmol) in THF (4 mL) at 0° C. was added LHMDS (114 μl, 0.114 mmol, 1 M in THF). This mixture was stirred 20 min at 0° C. before being stirred 20 min at RT. The mixture was re-cooled to 0° C. before the addition of azalactone 5i1 (50 mg, 0.095 mmol) in THF (4 mL). The cooling bath was removed after 10 min and the reaction was complete after 45 min. The mixture was neutralized with 2 drops of AcOH before being concentrated. The crude reaction mixture extracted into EtOAc and washed several times with slightly basic saturated brine. The organic phase was dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated to afford as a white solid of the acyl sulphonamide 512 (63 mg, 100%). MS: (M+H)⁺; 663.1 and (M−H)−; 661.1.

Step E: The acyl sulfonamide 5i2 (31.5 mg, 0.048 mmol) was Boc-deprotected using 4N HCl/dioxane (2 mL) over 35 minutes. The mixture was concentrated to dryness and dried overnight on the pump. To this amine salt 5i3 was added the succinamide moiety 5 g2 (11 mg, 0.048 mmol) and HATU (22 mg, 0.058 mmol) in DMF before the addition of DIPEA (20 mg, 0.12 mmol). The reaction was stirred at RT and was complete after 1 h. The mixture was concentrated to dryness and purified by preparative HPLC to give after lyophilization, compound 1016 (18.5 mg, 50%) as a white solid. MS: (M+H)⁺; 774.2 and (M−H)⁻; 772.1. Homogeneity by analytical HPLC (TFA)=99%). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ10.24 (s, 1H), 8.90 (s, 1H), 8.19 (d, J=8Hz, 1H), 7.80 (d, J=9Hz, 1H), 7.30 (s, 1H), 7.23 (dd, J=8, 8 Hz, 1H), 6.60 (s, 1H), 5.63-5.5 (m, 1H), 5.40 (bs, 1H), 5.20 (dd, J=17, 1 Hz, 1H), 5.08 (dd, J=10, 2 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (q, J=7 Hz, 2H), 4.46 (d, J=8 Hz, 1H), 4.26 (dd, J=11, 6.5 Hz, 1H), 3.91 (dd, J=11,4 Hz, 1H), 2.70-2.60 (m, 1H), 2.30-2.10 (m, 3H), 1.67 (dd, J=11, 7.8 Hz, 1H), 1.39 (t, J=4 Hz, 3H), 1.35 (s, 3H), 1.37-1.29 (m, 2H), 1.03 (s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 9H), 0.94-0.84 (m, 4H).

Example 6 NS3-NS4A Protease Assay

The enzymatic assay used to evaluate the present compounds is described in WO 00/09543 and WO 00/59929.

Example 7 Cell-based Luciferase Reporter HCV RNA Replication Assay

The assay used to evaluate the activity of the present compounds in cells expressing a stable subgenomic HCV replicon is described in WO 2005/028501.

Representative compounds according to this invention were found to be active when evaluated in the preceding enzymatic and cell based assays.

Example 8 Specificity Assays

The specificity assays used to evaluate the selectivity of compounds according to this invention were performed as described in WO 00/09543 except that the assay buffer for the Elastase assay was comprised of 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8, 0.25 M NaCitrate, 0.01% n-dodecyl β-d-maltoside, and 5.25% DMSO.

Representative compounds according to this invention were found to be selective in that they do not show significant inhibition (no measurable activity at concentrations up to 30 μM) in the Human Leukocyte Elastase assay or Human Liver Cathepsin B assays.

Tables of Compounds

The following table lists compounds representative of the invention. Many of the compounds listed in the Table were found to have IC₅₀ values below 0.1 μM in the NS3-NS4A protease assay of Example 6. In addition, many of the compounds listed in the Table have EC₅₀ values below 1 μM in the cell-based luciferase reporter HCV RNA replication assay of Example 7. Retention times (t_(R)) for each compound were measured using the standard analytical HPLC conditions described in the Examples. As is well known to one skilled in the art, retention time values are sensitive to the specific measurement conditions. Therefore, even if identical conditions of solvent, flow rate, linear gradient, and the like are used, the retention time values may vary when measured, for example, on different HPLC instruments. Even when measured on the same instrument, the values may vary when measured, for example, using different individual HPLC columns, or, when measured on the same instrument and the same individual column, the values may vary, for example, between individual measurements taken on different occasions. TABLE 1

wherein R⁵, R² and R⁴ are as defined below: Cpd R⁵ R² R⁴ (MH)⁺ t_(R) (min) 1001

729.4 5.25 1002

726.3 5.25 1003

712.3 6.75 1004

715.4 6.75 1005

732.3 7.0 1006

682.4 6.98 1007

834.1 836.1 7.45 1008

772.3 7.60 1009

792.3 7.73 1010

854.3 856.3 7.63 1011

8082.3 6.77 1012

756.4 5.38 1013

776.4 5.52 1014

780.3 7.83 1015

760.3 7.69 1016

774.3 7.79 1017

794.3 7.88 1018

1019

1020 

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 1 or2; R¹ is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, or (C₂₋₆)alkynyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, and (C₂₋₆)alkynyl are optionally substituted with from one to three halogen substituents; R² is selected from —NH—R²⁰, —O—R²⁰, —S—R²⁰, —SO—R²⁰, —SO₂—R²⁰, —OCH₂—R²⁰, and —CH₂O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is aryl or Het, wherein said aryl and Het are each optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is one to four substituents each independently selected from H, halogen, cyano, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het, oxo, thioxo, —OR²⁰¹, —SR²⁰¹, —SOR²⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰¹, —N(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹, and —CON(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹; wherein each of said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and Het is optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰; R²⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, (C₂₋₄)alkenyl, (C₂₋₄)alkynyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl and —CO—O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, wherein each of said alkyl and aryl is optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰; R²⁰² is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R²⁰⁰⁰ is one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, R²⁰⁰³, aryl, Het, —OR²⁰⁰¹, —SR²⁰⁰¹, —SOR²⁰⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰⁰¹, cyano and —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹), wherein each of said aryl and Het are optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl and —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl; R²⁰⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from aryl, aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³, —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴; R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R²⁰⁰³ in each case is independently selected from (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein each of said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and R²⁰⁰⁴ in each case is independently selected from H or R²⁰⁰³; R³ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, S-(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH and —CONH₂; R⁴ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, or Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-; a) each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl, Het, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- optionally being substituted with nitro and optionally being substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents; and b) said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from nitro, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, —OCF₃, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, tri(C₁₋₆)alkylsilyl, R⁴¹, —C(═O)—R⁴¹, —C(═O)OR⁴¹, —C(═O)N(R⁴²)R⁴¹, —SO₂R⁴¹, and —OC(═O)—R⁴¹; wherein R⁴¹ in each case is independently selected from: i) H, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, Het, or aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—; ii) aryl or aryloxy, each of which being optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and iii) (C₁₋₈)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl, Het, aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of said aryl and aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and R⁴² is selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; or R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl- are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; or R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to which they are bonded, to form a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic saturated or unsaturated heterocycle optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a heteropolycycle, said heterocycle and heteropolycycle each optionally containing from one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected from N, S and O, and being optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, Het or Het-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-; wherein each of said (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, Het and Het-(C₁₋₃)alkyl- is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NHC(═O)(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NHC(═O)O(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C═O)NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C═O)N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CONH₂, —CONH-(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CON((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —SO₂(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —SO₂NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl; and Y is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl; with the proviso that when m is 2, n is 1, and R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-; each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each of which being optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁ ₄)alkyl)₂; wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents; or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C4)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁ ₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents; then R² cannot be

wherein R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³, —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴; R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl; R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁ ₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³; wherein Het as used herein is defined as a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated, unsaturated or aromatic; or a salt thereof.
 2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein n is
 1. 3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein m is
 2. 4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is (C₂₋₆)alkenyl or (C₂₋₆)alkyl.
 5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R² is —O—R²⁰, wherein R²⁰ is Het, said Het being optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is defined as in claim 1; wherein Het is a heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen heteroatom.
 6. The compound according to claim 5 wherein Het is a group selected from:

wherein R^(200d) is H or —OR²⁰¹, wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰⁰ is one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, Het, —O—(C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; R^(200e) is H or —OR²⁰¹, wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and R^(200f) is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, halogen, —SR²⁰¹, —SOR²⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰¹ or —OR²⁰¹; wherein R²⁰¹ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl.
 7. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R³ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₄)alkyl substituents.
 8. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁴ is selected from methyl, ethyl, 1-methylethyl, propyl, ethenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, phenyl and —N(CH₃)₂; wherein the cyclopropyl is optionally substituted at the 1-position with methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, each of the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl being optionally further substituted with phenyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl or (C₁₋₄)alkoxy.
 9. The compound according to claim 1 wherein R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, or phenyl, each of which being optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl and —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl.
 10. The compound according to claim 1 wherein Y is H or methyl.
 11. The compound according to claim 1 wherein: n is 1 or 2; m is 1 or 2; R¹ is H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, or (C₂₋₆)alkynyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, and (C₂₋₆)alkynyl are optionally substituted with from one to three halogen substituents; R² is selected from —NH—R²⁰, —O—R²⁰, —S—R²⁰, —SO—R²⁰, —SO₂—R²⁰, —OCH₂—R², and —CH₂O—R² , wherein R²⁰ is aryl or Het, wherein said aryl and Het are each optionally substituted with R²⁰⁰, wherein R²⁰⁰ is one to four substituents each independently selected from H, halogen, cyano, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl, Het, oxo, thioxo, —OR²⁰¹, —SR²⁰¹, —SOR²⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰¹, —N(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹, and —CON(R²⁰²)R²⁰¹; wherein each of said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and Het is optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰; R²⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, (C₂₋₄)alkenyl, (C₂₋₄)alkynyl, —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl and —CO—O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, wherein each of said alkyl and aryl is optionally further substituted with R²⁰⁰⁰; R²⁰² is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R²⁰⁰⁰ is one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, R²⁰⁰³, aryl, Het, —OR²⁰⁰¹, —SR²⁰⁰¹, —SOR²⁰⁰¹, —SO₂R²⁰⁰¹, cyano and —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹), wherein each of said aryl and Het are optionally substituted with one, two or three substituents each independently selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl and —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl; R²⁰⁰¹ in each case is independently selected from aryl, aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³, —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴; R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R²⁰¹³ in each case is independently selected from (C₁₋₈) alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein each of said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and R²⁰⁰⁴ in each case is independently selected from H or R²⁰⁰³; R³ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein each said cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH and —CONH₂; R⁴ is (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-aryl, Het, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, or Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-; a) each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl, Het, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, and Het-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- optionally being substituted with nitro and optionally being substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH (C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents; and b) said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from nitro, halogen, hydroxy, cyano, —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, —OCF₃, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, tri(C₁₋₆)alkylsilyl, R⁴¹, —C(═O)—R⁴¹, —C(═O)OR⁴¹, —C(═O)N(R⁴²)R⁴¹, —SO₂R⁴¹, and —OC(═O)—R⁴¹; wherein R⁴¹ in each case is independently selected from: i) H, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, Het, or aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—; ii) aryl or aryloxy, each of which being optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and iii) (C₁₋₈)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from —O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, halogen, (C₂₋₁₀)alkenyl, (C₂₋₁₀)alkynyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₄₋₇)cycloalkenyl, aryl, Het, aryloxy, and aryl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-O—, wherein each of said aryl and aryloxy is optionally substituted with (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and R⁴² is selected from H and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; or R⁴ is —N(R^(N2))(R^(N1)), wherein R^(N1) and R^(N2) are each independently selected from H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, aryl and aryl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl- are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; or R^(N2) and R^(N1) are linked, together with the nitrogen to which they are bonded, to form a 3- to 7-membered monocyclic saturated or unsaturated heterocycle optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a heteropolycycle, said heterocycle and heteropolycycle each optionally containing from one to three additional heteroatoms each independently selected from N, S and O, and being optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, hydroxy, cyano, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —COOH, and —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁵ is (C₂₋₁₀)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein a) each said cycloalkyl and cycloalkyl-alkyl- is optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and b) each said alkyl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkyl-alkyl- is optionally substituted with one or two substituents each independently selected from hydroxy and O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl; and c) each said alkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents; and d) in each said cycloalkyl group being 5-, 6- or 7-membered, one or two —CH₂-groups not being directly linked to each other are optionally replaced by —O— such that the O-atom is linked to the N atom to which R⁵ is attached via at least two C-atoms; or R⁵ is phenyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, heteroaryl or heteroaryl-(C₁₋₃)alkyl-, wherein the heteroaryl groups are 5- or 6-membered having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms each independently selected from N, O and S; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl groups are each optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, —OH, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, S—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —CONH₂, —CONH—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —COOH, —COO(C₁₋₆)alkyl, and —CO—(C₁₋₆)alkyl; and Y is H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl; with the proviso that when m is 2, n is 1, and R⁴ is selected from (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, phenyl, naphthyl, pyridinyl, phenyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, naphthyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- and pyridinyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-; each of which being optionally substituted with nitro and each of which being optionally substituted with one to three substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl and O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl are each optionally substituted with one to three halogen substituents; or R⁴ is (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with nitro and optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, cyano, (C₁₋₄)alkyl, O—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —OCF₃, —CO—NH₂, —CO—NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —CO—N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, —NH₂, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl and —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂, wherein said (C₁₋₄)alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more halogen substituents; then R² cannot be

wherein R²⁰⁰ is —O—(C₁₋₄)alkyl, —NH(C₁₋₄)alkyl, or —N((C₁₋₄)alkyl)₂; and R²⁰⁰⁰ is R²⁰⁰³ or —N(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰¹); wherein R²⁰⁰¹ is selected from —C(O)—R²⁰⁰³, —C(O)O—R²⁰⁰³, —CON(R²⁰⁰²)(R²⁰⁰⁴) and R²⁰⁰⁴; R²⁰⁰² in each case is independently selected from H and methyl; R²⁰⁰³ is (C₁₋₈)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl-, wherein said (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl-(C₁₋₄)alkyl- are optionally substituted with one to three (C₁₋₃)alkyl substituents; and R²⁰⁰⁴ is H or R²⁰⁰³; wherein Het as used herein is defined as a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1 to 4 heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S, which may be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic, and which is optionally fused to at least one other cycle to form a 4- to 14-membered heteropolycycle having wherever possible 1 to 5 heteroatoms, each independently selected from O, N and S, said heteropolycycle being saturated, unsaturated or aromatic; or a salt thereof.
 12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount of a compound according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium or auxiliary agent.
 13. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 12 additionally comprising a therapeutically effective amount of at least one other antiviral agent.
 14. A method of treating a hepatitis C viral infection in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an anti-hepatitis C virally effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the compound according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is administered in combination with at least one other antiviral agent, administered together or separately.
 16. A method of inhibiting the replication of hepatitis C virus by exposing the virus to a hepatitis C viral NS3 protease inhibiting amount of the compound according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 17. An article of manufacture comprising a composition effective to treat an HCV infection; and packaging material comprising a label which indicates that the composition can be used to treat infection by the hepatitis C virus; wherein the composition comprises a compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 18. A process for the preparation of a compound according to claim 1, comprising: a) reacting a compound of formula (II):

wherein R⁴ and m are defined as in claim 1, with a strong base so as to form the corresponding amide anion and b) reacting an azalactone of formula (III):

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁵, Y and n are defined as in claim 1, with the amide anion formed in step a).
 19. An azalactone intermediate compound of formula (III):

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁵, Y and n are defined as in claim
 1. 